HC Deb 27 May 1919 vol 116 cc1007-8
15 and 16. Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAM

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Oliver W. Banwell, No. 2332, 4th Southern Company, Non-combatant Corps, who was, prior to his arrest, a schoolmaster, and the sole support of his widowed mother, was court martialled in May, 1918, and sentenced to two years hard labour which he is now serving in Winchester Prison; whether he will remit the remainder of this man's sentence; (2) whether he is aware that A. Bissett, No. 63419, 3rd Highland Light Infantry, was arrested as a conscientious objector in May, 1918, and is at present serving a sentence of twelve months' hard labour in Calton Prison, Edinburgh; and whether he will now remit this man's sentence?

17. Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSON

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that J. Andrews, No. 326618, 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, is at present serving his second sentence of two years' hard labour as a conscientious objector in Hull Prison; and whether he will now remit this man's sentence?

Mr. FORSTER

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement made on the 3rd April in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Plaistow, and to the reply given on the 1st May to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland, which explained the policy with regard to the release of conscientious objectors and others who are serving terms of imprisonment.

37. Captain TUDOR-REES

asked the Secretary for War whether he is prepared to extend to serving soldiers the consideration and clemency shown to conscientious objectors and order the release of those who, for purely military offences, have served twenty months in detention or imprisonment?

Mr. FORSTER

In view of the fact that the provisions of paragraph 583(xi.)of the King's Regulations in so far as they relate to the scales of punishment for various offences have been closely followed there cannot be said to be any comparison between the treatment of conscientious objectors and serving soldiers, the former having been excluded from the provisions of the above quoted Regulations.