asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the criminal law operating in the Seychelles is based on the Code Napoleon; and whether, as the code has unduly heavy minimum penalties, he will take steps to modernise the law.

The Seychelles Penal Code is based on the French Penal Code of 1810, but the provisions of the latter have been considerably modified by subsequent local legislation. In consultation with the Governor, I am considering the question of a revision of the existing Code.