§ 5. Mr. Brookeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men of 1430 23 years of age who registered as long ago as February, and appealed against the refusal of the local tribunal to register them as conscientious objectors, are still waiting, some of them in idleness, for their cases to be reached by the appeal tribunal; and whether he will take immediate steps, if necessary by appointing additional tribunals, to ensure that a final decision on every claim to be a conscientious objector shall be given not more than three months after a man has registered?
§ Mr. AsshetonThe number of appeals to the Appellate Tribunal for England and Wales has proved to be larger than can be dealt with by the single tribunal provided by the Armed Forces Act. My right hon. Friend, accordingly, obtained power, under the Defence Regulations made on 7th August, to appoint additional divisions of this tribunal, and is setting up three such divisions immediately. This should have the result of bringing the cases up to date.