1. Petty-Officer A. P. Herbertasked the Minister of Labour how many men of military age are reserved or exempted as lay-preachers?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)The National Service Acts exempt men in holy orders and regular ministers of any religious denomination from liability to be called up for service. Lay evangelists who are outside the scope of this exemption, but who have been engaged whole-time since before September, 1939, by a recognised religious body, in religious work analogous to that of a regular minister of a religious denomination, are reserved by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work; they number rather more than 400.
§ Sir Percy HurdDoes the Minister regard the Oxford Group as in that category?
§ Mr. MathersWhy does the right hon. Gentleman take that view, in the light of the fact that members of the Oxford Group are full-time lay evangelists and have been endorsed as lay evangelists by the Archbishops, the bishops, the leaders of the Free Churches and the leaders of the Scottish Churches?
§ Mr. BevinWithin the meaning of the National Service Act and their liability to serve their country, I am not prepared to accept the Oxford Group as a religious organisation.
§ Mr. MathersI am asking the Minister why he does not accept this expert opinion.
§ Mr. MathersIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Reply and the fact that it is felt that the Minister is making an unfair discrimination, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early opportunity.