HL Deb 26 March 1996 vol 570 c129WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will issue and publish guidelines for prosecutions for the offence of torture in breach of Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

The Lord Chancellor

Prosecutions for offences of torture require the consent of the Attorney General. In considering whether to grant that consent, he will consider whether the evidence is sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and whether a prosecution is needed in the public interest.