§ 84. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will order the immediate release of Sydney Goodman, at present detained at the guard room. No. 7 Camp, Kinmel Park who, while working on a farm at Bridgend, Glamorgan, and holding a certificate of exemption so long as he remained at that work, was illegally arrested on:50th December, and, after irregular proceedings at the Police Court, was handed over to the military authority, and having subsequently refused to obey military orders, has Leen courtmartialled and sentenced to two years' hard labour; and will he say what action he proposes to take with respect to the conduct of the military representative in committing this illegal act of arrest?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiries have been made into the facts of this case, and as it appears that Goodman was in possession of a certificate of exemption at the time of his arrest, it has been decided to return him to Army Reserve "B." As Goodman was handed over by the magistrates he is properly in military custody. It is not, therefore, proposed to take any further action in this case other than to release Goodman from military service and relegate him to Army Reserve "B."
§ Mr. SNOWDENAm I to understand that the Under-Secretary admits that this man was illegally arrested by the War Office or the recruiting officer, and if so is it proposed to take any action against the officer for illegally arresting this man?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs far as the War Office is concerned, he was properly handed over to us by a Civil Court.