5. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a letter, dated 27th March, from the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow inquiring whether the proper procedure had been adopted with regard to certain conscientious objectors arrested in Glasgow of whom the civil authorities at Barlinnie Prison had refused to accept custody and who had thereafter been sent to Perth Prison; whether any opportunity had been given to these prisoners of engaging in work of public importance under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors; and whether he is now in a position to answer these questions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONA report was called for some time ago, but it has not been received. I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as I am in a position to do so
Mr. SCOTTSeeing that the matter has been a number of weeks under consideration, will the hon. Gentleman press for an urgent reply to the inquiries which he himself has made?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCertainly.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary for the Home Department whether he can say what was the decision of the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors as to the leave railway fares and liberty of movement of conscientious objectors at Princetown?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)In view of the suspension of leave of soldiers on home service, the Committee has decided to suspend the leave of conscientious objectors employed under them, save in exceptional circumstances. As regards the movements of the men at Princetown, the Committee has 2199 decided that they shall not be allowed to visit towns and villages outside Prince-town.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the fact that Mr. Norman was allowed to make a speech at the meeting of the Independent Labour party?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.