§ 70. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that conscientious objectors released under the Home Office scheme receive an assurance from the Government, in accordance with the Government's statement on the 29th June, 1916, that they will do work of national importance under civil control and will be released from military discipline and the discipline of the Army Act; whether he is aware that the agent at Dartmouth is Major Bead, and that the two permanent sitting members of the Committee are Major Terrell and Major Briscoe; whether he can reconcile this position with the undertaking that conscientious objectors should be under civil control; and, seeing that many of the King's Army Regulations have been imposed upon conscientious objectors under the guise of Home Office Regulations, notwithstanding the undertaking that these men should be released from military discipline, will he say what steps will now be taken to give them such release?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave)The men employed under the control of the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors are released from prison on the understanding that they will be employed under civil control on work of national importance not directly connected with the War. This understanding has been strictly observed by the Committee. All the members of the Committee and of the Committee's staff are civilians, the three gentlemen referred to by the hon. Member having retired from the Army in 1903, 1916 and 1895 respectively. The conscientious objectors while serving under the Committee are not subject to the King's Regulations.