§ Mr. SWANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that G. A. Bishop, No. 3992, 4th Northern Non-Combatant Corps, was court-martialled for disobeying orders on conscientious grounds in July, 1918, and is still undergoing a sensentence of hard labour in Wormwood Scrubs Prison; and if he will now remit this man's sentence?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on the 3rd April in reply to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Plaistow, and to the reply given on the 1st May to a question put by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland, from which he will see the policy laid down with regard to conscientious objectors who are serving terms of imprisonment.
§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Herbert Bullough, Lancashire Fusiliers, a member of the Miners' Federation, who was arrested in May, 1918, and subsequently accepted work under the Home Office scheme, was reported and sent back to the Army in April, and is now serving a sentence of two years' hard labour; and whether, in view of the fact that the men employed under the Home Office Committee have now been released, he will remit this man's sentence; and (2) whether he is aware that A. Barratt Brown, No. 41710, 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, a Quaker, and formerly a lecturer at Woodbrooke Settlement, Birmingham, is in Canterbury Prison serving a sentence of twelve months' hard labour as a conscientious objector; and whether he will remit the remainder of this man's sentence?
861W
§ Mr. SPOORasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether be is aware that P. J. Boddy, No. 34307, Depot, Norfolk Regiment, is now serving a third sentence as a conscientious objector in Norwich Prison; and whether, in view of the fact that six months have passed since the cessation of hostilities, he will now remit this man's sentence; and (2) whether he is aware that W. H. Bibby, No. 39243, 3rd Battalion Border Regiment, a railway clerk of only nineteen years of age, was arrested in March, 1918, as a conscientious objector and is now serving a sentence of two years' hard labour in Liverpool Prison; and whether he will now remit the remainder of this boy's sentence?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer the hon. Members to the statement made on the 3rd April in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Plaistow, and to the reply given on the 1st May to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland, which explained the policy with regard to the release of conscientious objectors and others who are serving terms of imprisonment.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Councillor Morgan Jones was released from Wakefield Work Centre, where he was working under the Home Office Committee for the Employment of Conscientious Objectors, in November, 1917, on grounds of ill-health; whether he will state on what grounds this man was recalled to Dartmoor in February, 1919; and why he has now been re-arrested?
§ Mr. SHORTTThis man was authorised by the Committee to take up exceptional employment. He was recalled to Prince-town for a breach of the propaganda condition. He failed to go to Princetown and was therefore recalled to the Army in February last. The matter is now one for the War Office.