§ 18. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received applications from conscientious objectors qualified for exceptional employment to be allowed to undertake educational work; if so, from how many persons; and what number have been, or will be, allowed to undertake such work?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)A certain number of the men employed under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors who have been qualified for exceptional employment have applied to be authorised to take up educational work. No such application has been or will be granted, and no record has been kept of the number of such applications.
§ Mr. KINGHas the opinion of the Board of Education, or of the President of the Board of Education, been taken on this matter; if so, what is that opinion?
§ Mr. KINGHas the Home Office received any representation on this matter from the Board of Education, even if it-has not been consulted?
§ Sir H. CRAIKBefore any concession of this sort is made, will the parents of scholars attending any school where it is proposed that these people shall be engaged be consulted?
§ Mr. BRACEThe Committee have decided as a policy and a principle that educational work is not suitable work for conscientious objectors to be released to go to.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would ask the hon. Member to proceed with the next question [No. 19].
§ 22. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will have an inquiry made into the condition of J. Sumner, No. 456, Northallerton Prison, who is serving his fourth sentence of two years' hard labour; and whether, in view of the state of his health, the imprisonment he has already endured, and the treatment meted out to him by the military service tribunals, he will order the man's discharge?
§ Mr. BRACEI find on inquiry that this prisoner is in good health mentally and physically, and that there is no ground on which the Home Secretary could advise interference with his sentence.