§ 49. Captain Sir GEORGE BOWYERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Government have issued the recent Circular E of the 10th September, 1929, by which conscientious objectors in the Civil Service have been given back all their rights; and is he aware that these conscientious objectors have thereby been placed in a better position than post-War soldiers and sailors?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEWith regard to the first part of the question, it is considered that there is no longer any justification for continuing the disabilities imposed on conscientious objectors in the Civil Service. With regard to the second part, it would not appear that the decision referred to will affect the position of post-War entrants in relation to the men concerned.
§ Sir G. BOWYERDoes the hon. Member realise that the decision amounts to this, that the ex-service men who had temporary service are not allowed to include that service for increment of pension, but that conscientious objectors are now allowed to include the four years in which they did not serve the State in that capacity for increment of pension?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThere is a question on the Order Paper on that point, and I will answer that when the time comes.
§ Sir G. BOWYERIf this decision was right, why was it not applied also to the Defence Services, and why are they specifically excluded from the Order of 10th September?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThat raises a separate question, of which I must have notice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEDoes the hon. Member think it is right that conscientious objectors should be put into a better position than ex-service men?
§ Sir G. BOWYERI beg to give notice that I will raise this question at an early date on the Motion for the Adjournment.
§ 60. Captain AUSTIN HUDSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many conscientious Objectors will benefit by the Treasury Circular of 10th 826 September; and how many ex-service men will have their promotion prospects worsened as a consequence thereof?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEApproximately 200 civil servants come within the provisions of the Treasury Circular to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The admission of this relatively small number of men to full eligibility for promotion will, in my opinion, have no appreciable effect on the promotion prospects of ex-service men in the Civil Service generally.
§ Captain HUDSONDoes not this procedure go back on the promises made to the ex-servicemen when they went to the war?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThat, of course, raises another question, but as far as I know it does not do anything of the kind.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the hon. Member say what "appreciable effect" is?