§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that G. Yates, of Leeds, a conscientious objector, was sentenced on 13th July to 112 days' imprisonment and lodged in Durham civil prison; and whether, having regard to his promise that conscientious objectors would be released pending an appeal to the Central Appeal Tribunal, to which such cases are now to be submitted, an instruction will be issued to release G. Yates and other conscientious objectors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy attention has not been drawn to this particular case. I assume that the promise to which the hon. Member refers is that given by the Financial Secretary to the War Office on the 9th instant, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Blackburn, that all conscientious objectors whose cases have not been reached by the Central Tribunal during the currency of their sentences are to be sent on furlough. That promise is being strictly adhered to; but I would point out to the hon. Member that the currency of the sentence in the case mentioned by him has not yet expired. I understand that the Central Tribunal will deal with the cases of conscientious objectors in Durham prison very shortly.