Death Penalty

Lord Faulkner of Worcester Excerpts

Tuesday 26th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Warsi]

The Commonwealth is an important institution within which to have these discussions and, of course, the signing of the Commonwealth charter in December only last year is a way to further strengthen the underpinning of the values of the Commonwealth family. However, individual countries within the Commonwealth take different views in relation to the use of the death penalty. We continue to work with them on a bilateral level, as well as through multilateral organisations, to try and move them to a position of abolition.

[Lord Faulkner of Worcester]

Can the Minister give an assurance that no European state is exporting to the United States pentobarbital or any other drug that is used in execution?

[Baroness Warsi]

My Lords, I read about that somewhere in my brief, but I am not sure exactly where it was. Rather than give the noble Lord an answer that is not entirely correct, I will write to him with a very specific answer.