§ 76. Mr. R. LAMBERTasked the Prime-Minister whether his promise regarding widows' only sons still holds good; whether his attention has been called to the case of T. S. McGuire, of Hampstead, a conscientious objector to military service, who has been allowed exemption from time to time on account of domestic hardship, he having an aged and invalid widowed mother solely dependent upon him; whether he is aware that, owing to it later transpiring that he was a conscientious objector, such exemption has been withdrawn and he is now liable to be called to the Colours; and whether, in view of these circumstances, steps will be taken to prevent action by tribunals?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first part of the question, I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a letter I recently addressed to a correspondent on this subject. With regard to the second part of the question, I am informed that this exemption was not withdrawn because McGuire was a conscientious objector but because the tribunal were of opinion that the reason for which it was granted, namely, domestic hardship, was no longer valid. This matter is entirely within the discretion of tribunals.