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Mr. Jonathan Evans (Brecon and Radnor) : On a point of order, Mr. Morris. You heard the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Bren) say that Mr. Anthony Paris would have been executed under the old system. I wanted to intervene to point out that I was Mr. Paris's solicitor--

The Chairman : Order. What has that to do with the Chair?

Mr. Evans : The appeal process had not been completed and he was found not guilty in the course of the Court of Appeal hearing; he never would have suffered that penalty.

The Chairman : That is not a point of order for the Chair.

Mr. Shersby : I also happen to be an adviser to the Police Federation of England and Wales, and I have a different list from that of the the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien), who has made a most remarkable speech. My list is the roll of honour of police officers who have lost their lives doing their duty, protecting the men and women of this country and keeping the Queen's peace.

I speak on behalf of my constituents in Uxbridge, on behalf of the vast majority of members of the Police

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Federation whose views were expressed at their annual conference, and in support of new clause 2, which was moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway), because nothing will shake my belief that the existence of capital punishment is the only penalty that will deter criminals--my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) has described them--from carrying guns and knives with which they shoot, stab, slash and kill men and women such as those on the Police Federation's roll of honour.

Since capital punishment was abolished in this country, 70 police officers have lost their lives. In the past five years that I have been a parliamentary adviser, five officers have died defending the men and women of this country and keeping the Queen's peace. It is time that we did what my hon. and learned Friend suggested, and that is to take courage to restore the penalty and make certain that the killing of innocent men and women comes to an end.

In the past three years, the Conservative Government have taken through the Lobby members of the Cabinet in support of capital punishment for treason and piracy. Those capital offences remain on the statute book. Therefore, why do my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and the Cabinet think that the death penalty is a deterrent for treason and for acts of piracy but not, apparently, for the murder of a police officer?

Why did the Home Secretary release Witney five years before the end of his sentence for killing three police officers in Notting Hill--Christopher Head, David Wombwell and Geoffrey Fox--in 1966? Why was Anthony Jeffs released after killing PC Guthrie in 1972? Such matters concern my constituents in Uxbridge and every decent policeman and policewoman in this country. They should concern every member of the House of Commons as it reaches its decision-- It being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first new clause relating to capital punishment, The Chairman-- put the question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to order [11 February].

The Committee divided : Ayes 186, Noes 383.

Division No. 134] [6.37 pm

AYES

Allason, Rupert (Torbay)

Amess, David

Ancram, Michael

Arbuthnot, James

Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham)

Arnold, Sir Thomas (Hazel Grv)

Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E)

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)

Baker, Nicholas (Dorset North)

Banks, Matthew (Southport)

Batiste, Spencer

Beggs, Roy

Bendall, Vivian

Blackburn, Dr John G.

Bonsor, Sir Nicholas

Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes

Brazier, Julian

Bright, Graham

Browning, Mrs. Angela

Bruce, Ian (S Dorset)

Burns, Simon

Butler, Peter

Carlisle, John (Luton North)

Carrington, Matthew

Carttiss, Michael

Cash, William

Chapman, Sydney

Churchill, Mr

Clappison, James

Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford)

Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey

Colvin, Michael

Conway, Derek

Coombs, Anthony (Wyre For'st)

Coombs, Simon (Swindon)

Cran, James

Davies, Quentin (Stamford)

Davis, David (Boothferry)

Day, Stephen

Deva, Nirj Joseph

Devlin, Tim

Dickens, Geoffrey

Dicks, Terry

Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James

Dover, Den

Duncan, Alan

Duncan-Smith, Iain

Dunn, Bob

Durant, Sir Anthony

Eggar, Tim

Emery, Rt Hon Sir Peter

Evans, David (Welwyn Hatfield)

Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley)

Evans, Roger (Monmouth)

Evennett, David

Fabricant, Michael

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Fenner, Dame Peggy

Field, Barry (Isle of Wight)

Forsyth, Michael (Stirling)

Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S)

Forth, Eric

Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman

Fox, Sir Marcus (Shipley)

French, Douglas

Fry, Sir Peter

Gale, Roger

Gallie, Phil

Gardiner, Sir George

Gill, Christopher

Gillan, Cheryl

Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles

Gorman, Mrs Teresa

Grant, Sir A. (Cambs SW)

Greenway, Harry (Ealing N)

Greenway, John (Ryedale)

Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N)

Hague, William

Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archie

Hampson, Dr Keith

Hanley, Jeremy

Hannam, Sir John

Hargreaves, Andrew

Hawkins, Nick

Hawksley, Warren

Hendry, Charles

Hill, James (Southampton Test)

Horam, John

Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford)

Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W)

Hunter, Andrew

Jack, Michael

Jessel, Toby

Jones, Robert B. (W Hertfdshr)

Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine

Kilfedder, Sir James

Kirkhope, Timothy

Knapman, Roger

Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash)

Knight, Greg (Derby N)

Knight, Dame Jill (Bir'm E'st'n)

Lang, Rt Hon Ian

Lawrence, Sir Ivan

Leigh, Edward

Lightbown, David

Lord, Michael

McCrea, Rev William

MacKay, Andrew

Maclean, David

McLoughlin, Patrick

McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick

Marland, Paul

Marlow, Tony

Marshall, John (Hendon S)

Martin, David (Portsmouth S)

Mawhinney, Rt Hon Dr Brian

Merchant, Piers

Mills, Iain

Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling)

Mitchell, Sir David (Hants NW)

Moate, Sir Roger

Molyneaux, Rt Hon James

Monro, Sir Hector

Montgomery, Sir Fergus

Moss, Malcolm

Neubert, Sir Michael

Nicholls, Patrick

Nicholson, David (Taunton)

Norris, Steve

Oppenheim, Phillip

Page, Richard

Paice, James

Paisley, Rev Ian

Patnick, Irvine

Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey

Pawsey, James

Porter, Barry (Wirral S)

Porter, David (Waveney)

Redwood, Rt Hon John

Riddick, Graham

Robathan, Andrew

Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S)

Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)

Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne)

Ross, William (E Londonderry)

Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela

Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey)

Sims, Roger

Skeet, Sir Trevor

Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick)

Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S)

Speed, Sir Keith

Spicer, Sir James (W Dorset)

Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)

Spink, Dr Robert

Sproat, Iain

Stewart, Allan

Streeter, Gary

Sumberg, David

Sykes, John

Taylor, Rt Hon John D. (Strgfd)

Taylor, John M. (Solihull)

Taylor, Sir Teddy (Southend, E)

Thomason, Roy

Thompson, Sir Donald (C'er V)

Thornton, Sir Malcolm

Thurnham, Peter

Townend, John (Bridlington)

Tracey, Richard

Tredinnick, David

Trotter, Neville

Twinn, Dr Ian

Vaughan, Sir Gerard

Viggers, Peter

Walker, A. Cecil (Belfast N)

Walker, Bill (N Tayside)

Ward, John

Waterson, Nigel

Watts, John

Wells, Bowen

Whitney, Ray

Whittingdale, John

Widdecombe, Ann

Wiggin, Sir Jerry

Wilkinson, John

Wolfson, Mark

Wood, Timothy

Tellers for the Ayes :

Mrs. Elizabeth Peacock and

Mr. Michael Shersby.

NOES

Abbott, Ms Diane

Adams, Mrs Irene

Ainger, Nick

Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey)

Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE)

Aitken, Jonathan

Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby)

Allen, Graham

Alton, David

Anderson, Donald (Swansea E)

Anderson, Ms Janet (Ros'dale)

Armstrong, Hilary

Ashby, David

Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy

Ashton, Joe

Austin-Walker, John

Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley)

Baldry, Tony

Banks, Robert (Harrogate)

Banks, Tony (Newham NW)

Barron, Kevin

Bates, Michael

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