§ 21 and 22. Mr. Cecil Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he can state for a date in each three months, since March, 1939, the number of those serving sentences as conscientious objectors, and the varying length of the sentences being served;
1376 (2) whether he can state, for a date in each three months since March, 1939, the location of civil prisons; the number of males confined therein, distinguishing between those claiming to be conscientious objectors and others; and how many of the former are serving a second or third sentence under the Military Training and the National Service (Armed Forces) Acts?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston)As the reply involves a table of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Conscientious objection is not a criminal offence, and no one can be imprisoned on account of it The following table for the dates specified gives particulars of (a). the total number of males confined in Scottish prisons, (b) number confined for offences under the National Service Acts or pending appearance before a Medical Board, and (c) number confined for offences against military discipline alleged to have been committed on conscientious grounds:
| Date. | A | B | C |
| 1st April, 1939 | 1,027 | — | — |
| 1st July, 1939 | 1,000 | — | — |
| 1st October, 1939 | 809 | — | — |
| 1st January, 1940 | 817 | — | — |
| 1st April, 1940 | 789 | — | — |
| 1st July, 1940 | 1,143 | 6 | 1 |
| 1st October, 1940 | 914 | 5 | 1 |
| 1st January, 1941 | 788 | 5 | 2 |
| 1st April, 1941 | 842 | 3 | 2 |
§ The sentences referred to under (b) varied between 10 and 30 days' imprisonment and under (c) between three months' and one year's hard labour. No person is serving a second or third sentence under the National Service Acts. Civil prisons in Scotland are situated at Aberdeen, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Barlinnie (Glasgow), Duke Street (Glasgow), Greenock, Inverness, Kirkwall, Perth and Peterhead. A civil prison at Lerwick was discontinued on the 30th September, 1940. There are, in addition, a number of legalised police cells the figures for which are not included in the table above.