HC Deb 21 February 1929 vol 225 cc1291-2
34. Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Minister of Health whether it is with his sanction and approval that the following prohibitory conditions against conscientious objectors is laid down in the rules and conditions applicable to persons applying for service in the Ministry of Health as housing or town-planning inspector, namely, that no person will be eligible who obtained from any tribunal, established under the Military Service Acts, 1916 to 1918, exemption from service in His Majesty's Forces under those Acts on the ground of a conscientious objection to the undertaking of military service or, although not so exempted, declined to comply with obligations imposed on him, by those Acts; and whether, in view of the fact that many hundreds of men who for conscientious reasons refused to bear arms in any war are at present serving the nation in this House and on many municipal and other elected bodies, and that more than 10 years have passed since the Armistice was signed, he will withdraw the present memorandum and issue instructions that no such clause in future be inserted in such documents?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The memorandum applicable to the post of housing and town-planning inspector was issued with my sanction and approval. The condition to which the hon. Member refers is one which is common to all appointments made to the Civil Service, and was notified, as a Regulation of the Civil Service Commissioners, in the London Gazette, in 1922. I may add that this Regulation was made in consequence of a recommendation of a Select Committee of this House on the employment of conscientious objectors in the Civil Service, which reported in April, 1922. I am not prepared to withdraw the memorandum or to issue instructions to the effect suggested.

Commander LOCKER-LAMPSON

Ought not men who went to the War always to be preferred before the shirkers and funks?

Mr. LANSBURY

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the last part of the question? In particular, is he aware that the men who so acted did so under a law passed by this House, and therefore that the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Handsworth (Commander Locker-Lampson) does not arise? [Interruption]. Parliament recognised the right of people to say whether they should be murderers or not. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] After all, some of you were not at the Front. [HON. MEMBERS: "Get on with it!"] Get on with it yourself. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order"] Who are you? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] Who are you? Hold your own tongue.

Mr. SPEAKER

Will the hon. Member please put his next question?

Mr. LANSBURY

I want you to keep the Chief Whip of the Government in order. If the hon. and gallant Member —[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]—controls himself, there will be order in the House.

Mr. SPEAKER

I ask the hon. Member to put his next question.

Mr. LANSBURY

On a point of Order. Have not the Members of this House a right to be protected from the insults and jeers of the Chief Whip of the Government? I only want to say-that I do not object, because I can give him back as good as he gives.