§ 5. Mr. Thurtleasked the Minister of Labour the percentage of persons registering under the Military Service Acts who have registered as conscientious objectors in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively?
§ Mr. BevinThe percentage of men who have been provisionally registered up to and including 22nd June, as conscientious objectors, is 1.39 for England, 1.46 for Scotland, and 2.56 for Wales, making a total percentage of 1.45 for Great Britain.
§ Mr. ThurtleHas the right hon. Gentleman's Department knowledge of any reason why there should be such a higher percentage of conscientious objectors in Wales?
§ Mr. BevinI can only assume that they were, until recently, a little further away from the battle.
§ Mr. McGovernIs not that higher percentage due to the teaching of the Labour Members in Wales?
§ 6. Sir H. Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Labour how many resolutions he has received from public bodies urging the compulsory enlistment of conscientious objectors in an organisation under Government control for non-combatant duties at rates of pay and allowances identical with those made to persons of similar grades in His Majesty's Forces; and what reply he has returned?
§ Mr. BevinI have received 24 resolutions from public bodies in the sense indicated, and have taken note of the views expressed. No reply has been sent, beyond a formal acknowledgment. I may add that I am giving further consideration to the whole question.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIn view of the fact that conditions have changed much since the original legislation was introduced and that we are now fighting for our hearths and. homes, will the right hon. Gentleman review the whole situation and bring it more into tune with public opinion?
§ Mr. BevinI understand that there has been a development, even in the points of view in this House.
§ 15. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Minister of Labour whether he has now been able to ascertain the number of conscientious objectors placed by tribunals on the register on the condition that they undertake work of national importance; how many have found, and are now engaged in, such work; and what has happened to the balance?
§ Mr. BevinThe information which I promised to obtain in response to my hon. and gallant Friend's Question of 27th June is not yet complete, but I hope to be able to let him have it shortly.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes not the difficulty in obtaining this information show that no proper check has been made of these people? If I put down the Question next week, shall I have an answer?
§ Mr. BevinI do not think that is necessarily so. It must be remembered that my Department handles a problem concerning nearly 17,000,000 people in this country.
§ Major LeightonAre there any conscientious objectors in the Civil Service?
§ 61. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the large number of employés of the Fulham Borough Council who have registered as conscientious objectors; and whether he will make inquiries to see what subversive influence is at work in the district to bring about this state of affairs?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir John Anderson)On the information I have been able to obtain, I can find no ground for the suggestion that the number of conscientious objectors amongst the employés of this council is large, or that any such influence as my hon. Friend suggests is at work in Fulham.