§ 20. General Sir George Jeffreysasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain organisations of conscientious objectors have been attempting to bargain with local defence committees as to the class of work which they might be called upon to perform in case of invasion; and whether he will make it clear that conscientious objectors can, in such circumstances, be ordered to perform any kind of work which other civilians may be called upon to do?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI have no information in regard to the first part of the Question. As regards the second, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that under Regulation 84AA of the Defence (General) Regulations directions to civilians to perform work (other than combatant duties) needed in connection with operations for meeting enemy action on land will be given not by local defence committees, but by specially appointed officers acting on his behalf and that in the conditions contemplated by the Regulation it would be impracticable to discriminate between one civilian and another.