§ 54. Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister whether, considering that conscientious objectors are being granted certificates of exemption on obtaining scholastic employment and the danger of entrusting 2065 the education of our youth to men of this sort, he will cause it to be notified that scholastic employment is not a work of national importance within the meaning of the Military Service Act?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)The Prime Minister has asked me to reply. The question of the form of employment which a conscientious objector may be allowed to undertake as a condition of exemption is one which Parliament had expressly placed within the discretion of the tribunals, and a Committee has been appointed to give advice on this Subject to those tribunals that seek it. So far as my information goes, no exemption has been given, on the recommendation of this Committee conditional on the applicant obtaining scholastic employment.
§ Colonel YATEHas the right hon. Gentleman seen reports in the papers of councils having dismissed schoolmasters who refused to give patriotic addresses, and will the right hon. Gentleman support the action of those authorities?
§ Mr. LONGI have not seen those reports, and they do not call for notice on my part. They are within the discretion of the local authorities, and I have no authority to act in the matter at all.