§ 6. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say what is the state of health of C. W. Spiller, a conscientious objector, in Wandsworth Prison, who has served eighteen months' imprisonment; and if, in view of accounts of his health which have reached his friends, he will have a thorough medical inquiry?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)I received a medical report on this case about a month ago, and have to-day received a further report. These reports satisfy me that the man is in good health, and that the reports to the contrary circulated by his friends are without foundation.
§ 70. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Undersecretary of State for War if a man who holds a tribunal certificate of exemption on conscientious grounds on the condi- 1091 tion that he engages in civil work of national importance is willing to join the Royal Army Medical Corps, whether the Army authorities will accept him for that corps and give him an undertaking that he will not be transferred to any other branch of the forces?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I am afraid that I cannot give any general undertaking of this nature, in view of the Army Transfers Act, though I am quite willing to consider any particular case on its merits.
§ 44. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Central Tribunal gave a decision on the 13th instant in the case of Councillor W. Regan, of Rutherglen, to the effect that, as a condition of exemption from military service, he must find work fifty miles distant from Rutherglen; that two years ago the tribunal gave him a certificate of exemption on condition that he continued in his occupation as a skilled telegraphist in the General Post Office in Glasgow; whether he is aware that in December last the tribunal gave the same decision, but on an appeal by the National Service representative his certificate of exemption was amended to the effect that he mast find work in a coal mine, on the ground that an International Socialist was not to be trusted with confidential work passing through the Post Office, but that the National Service representative, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Appeal Tribunal that he should be allowed to work in a coal mine near home, appealed to the Central Tribunal and secured the decision that he must be deported to a distance at least fifty miles from his home; whether the authorities are aware that Councillor Regan is the adopted Labour candidate for the Rutherslen Division of Lanarkshire, and that this deportation order has aroused local indignation among organised Labour in the district, and that there is the probability of protests being made; and whether it is intended to enforce the decision of the Central Tribunal?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Mr. Morison)I am informed that Councillor W Regan, of Rutherglen, applied for exemption from military service on the ground of conscientious objection. The final decision in his case was given by the Central Tribunal, who decided to grant exemption from com- 1092 batant service only, subject to the proviso that if within twenty-one days he undertakes, under the direction of the Committee of Work of National Importance, work which is of national importance, and under conditions approved by the tribunal, he shall be exempt from non-combatant service so long as he continues to carry out the work under such conditions.
I am informed that it is the practice of the Central Tribunal under their powers to require conscientious objectors, as a condition of their exemption from military service, to obtain work at a distance from their homes, and that, after careful consideration of all the circumstances of this case, the Central Tribunal decided that they would not be prepared to approve of Councillor Regan's employment in work within 50 miles of Rutherglen. This decision superseded the judgments of the other tribunals, and if Councillor Regan observes the conditions imposed by the Central Tribunal, no quest on with regard to its enforcement can arise.
Mr. CHANCELLORMay I ask whether it is customary for the Central Tribunal to override the decisions of the local tribunals?
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. and learned Gentleman say what difference geographical distance makes to conscience?
§ 55. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service if he will define the position under the new Military Service Act of conscientious objectors who refuse on conscientious grounds to be medically examined, that is, will he state whether the case of such a man would be heard, and, if so, within what time limit?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Beck)New regulations for tribunals are about to be issued, and they will contain a provision applicable to such cases to the effect that an original application on the part of a man whose liability to military service accrued under the new Act has to be lodged within seven days after medical examination, or if the man fails to attend for medical examination within seven days after the date on which he was summoned for examination. The men referred to in the question would fall within the latter class.