Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 July 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 July 2001. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 July 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement regarding the granting of pardons to those who were executed for cowardice during the First World War. - Inc ref to 316 c372-86, 24 July 1998.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the granting of pardons to those who were executed for cowardice during the First World War. [3937] Dr. Moonie: The question of granting pardons to those executed during the First World War, mostly for desertion, was the subject of a detailed review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, then Minister of State for the Armed Forces. The legal difficulties in considering pardons, particularly the lack of evidence available today, were explained in his statement to this House on 24 July 1998 , Official Report, columns 1372-86. Those executed have been publicly recognised as victims of a terrible war and their commemoration by the new memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum is particularly fitting.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3937; 372 c146W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Discipline Armed forces Courts martial Capital punishment Desertion Prerogative of mercy World War I
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk