Oral Answers to Questions

Callum McCaig Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd February 2016 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Callum McCaig (Aberdeen South) (SNP)]

1. What steps the Government are taking to support the global abolition of the death penalty.

[The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington)]

We oppose the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and advocate global abolition. The Government support a number of programmes around the world to promote both abolition and a moratorium on executions in those countries where the death penalty is still on the statute book.

[Callum McCaig]

I thank the Minister for his response. Will he present a new strategy for the abolition of the death penalty, following on from the 2010 to 2015 strategy? Will that new strategy include Saudi Arabia?

[Mr Lidington]

We oppose the death penalty in every country in the world, including Saudi Arabia, where it is still part of the criminal law. The abolition of the death penalty remains integral to all the human rights work that my Department does.