34. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, with regard to the three conscientious objectors James M'Geish, James Greig, and George Campbell, who, after undergoing a sentence of twenty-eight days' detention at Perth for not complying with orders were tried by court-martial at Craigmillar Camp, Duddington, on 1st May, and sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour, whether he is aware that these men are willing to undertake work under the scheme of the Brace Committee and whether these men have yet been given any opportunity of appearing before the Central Tribunal?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have no information about the points raised by my hon. Friend. The question whether these men have appeared before the Central Tribunal, and, if so, what the tribunal's decision was, would appear to be one for my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board.
§ 36. Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why Vale Rawlings, a conscientious objector, has been classed in medical category A when the prison medical officer at Wormwood Scrubs certified that he is suffering from a mitral obstruction and quite unfit for hard work?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will make inquiries and let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the hon. Gentleman aware that he wrote to me some months ago to say that this man was passed Class A without examination because he refused to be examined?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. Friend knows very well that I have to deal with hundreds of cases per week, and I cannot recollect any individual case. The infor- 1895 mation I got this morning was the information which I have given, but if my hon. Friend states that is so it is so.
§ 39. Captain S. GWYNNasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a conscientious objector called James Brightmore was sentenced to twenty-eight days' solitary confinement in an uncovered pit 3 ft. wide; if so, what is the name of the officer who ordered the sentence; whether he is still in the Army; and what disciplinary action has been taken in regard to his military superiors, if any, who were cognisant of the facts?
§ 42. Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what was the nature of the first report he received in connection with the Brightmore case; and whether he has received the further report which he called for?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am sorry that I am not yet in a position to answer these questions, but I hope shortly to be able to make a full statement as to the case and as to the disposal of the officers concerned.
§ Captain GWYNNCould the hon. Gentleman explain how on earth it is impossible for him to ascertain whether a specific punishment was inflicted upon a specific man in a known camp after at least a week has elapsed since his attention was first drawn to it?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt is not at all impossible for me to ascertain the facts. I have asked the Director-General of Personal Service to get me a full report of the case. If my hon. and gallant Friend had listened to the last part of my answer, he would have heard that I hope shortly to be able to make a full statement on the case and as to the disposal of the officers concerned.