§ 33. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the reduced period of part-time service from sixty to twenty days announced in the White Paper on National Service, Command Paper No. 9608, he will extend a similar concession to conditionally-registered conscientious objectors required to fulfil conditions for sixty days beyond the two years' National Service period.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir. I have no power to relieve a conscientious objector of his obligations under the National Service Acts.
§ Mr. BrockwayWould it not be possible, administratively, to put these men on the same basis as National Service men? Public interest is taken into account in the case of reservists. Students, teachers and others are often kept out of useful service for a year. Might not that principle be applied to these men?
§ Mr. MacleodI think the hon. Member recognises, from the emphasis which he placed on the word "administrative," that I have no power to alter the present legal position. It is true that not in every case does a prosecution follow. All the matters to which the hon. Member referred are taken into account, including, in particular, the position of intending students for universities, and whether the date on which their obligations end would be affected.