§ 33. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the local tribunals are now fully aware of their power to grant absolute exemption in the case of men who had attested as well as those coming under the Military Service Act; and are the local tribunals using the power in desirable cases?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)Instructions have been issued which make the matter quite clear. With regard to the last part of the question, I have no reason to think that the local tribunals will not act as suggested.
§ 35. Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether in a large number of cases in different parts of the country men who apply to the proper authority for forms of application for exemption under Section 2 of the Military Service Act, 1916, are being informed that applications for exemption cannot be entertained until after attestation, and in this way are being misled into losing their right to put forward conscientious objections as provided by the Act in question; and if he will put a stop to this method of depriving citizens of their statutory rights?
§ Mr. LONGIf any such misapprehension has occurred, I hope the answer I gave on Thursday last to a question by the hon. Member for Blackburn will have helped to dispel it.