Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 14 December 2005 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: Is the Prime Minister aware that 97 per cent. of executions in the world take place in China, Vietnam, Iran and George Bush's United States, which passed the 1,000 mark this week? Since this is an area in which the European Union has considerable moral and political authority, what role is the Prime Minister playing, as EU President, in exercising international leadership to curb this practice?

Answer: There is a difference between Europe and America on this issue—there always has been and there will be so long as the death penalty remains in the United States of America. When the hon. Gentleman puts the United States of America alongside China, Iran and so on, it is worth pointing out to him that the rule of law applies in the United States of America. Although I strongly disagree with the death penalty, I think that, if we are looking at human rights abuses, it is sometimes right to look elsewhere and at the severe human rights abuses that happen around the rest of the world, particularly in countries such as North Korea, where we never hear any protests at all.

Secondary information