Mr. LLEWELYN WILLIAMSasked the Home Secretary what is proposed to be done with conscientious objectors who have been imprisoned for months or years for disobeying military orders upon the expiration of their sentence; are they to be sent back to their regiments and to go through the same process of disobedience, trial by court-martial, and a term of imprisonment; or will the Government, being satisfied with the genuineness of these men's convictions, either order their release or deal with them in some other way?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSuch soldiers as have convinced the Central Tribunal of the genuineness of their conscientious convictions have the opportunity of securing immediate release under the terms which have been so often stated in this House. Such soldiers as are not considered by the Central Tribunal as genuine in their conscientious convictions will, on the termination of their sentences, be dealt with in accordance with the Army Act.
§ Mr. TREVELYANasked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will state for what reason A. P. Catherall, No. K.D.990, Army Service Corps, a conscientious objector, was removed from Bristol Prison before he had finished his term of imprisonment and rent to France; and whether instructions will be issued to have him returned to this country?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. Friend will furnish me with any reason why Private Catherall should not have been sent to France I will consider the matter. At the present moment I cannot see that any irregularity whatever has been committed.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether he will give the full text of Prison 482W Regulation 243a, governing concessions to conscientious objectors who have served twelve months' imprisonment?
§ Sir G. CAVEI will send the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. KINGasked whether, on 11th January, a conscientious objector named Pugh was punished at Winchester for having pieces of newspaper; whether, believing that he was punished contrary to regulations, he refused food; and whether he was then removed to Pentonville that he might be forcibly fed?
§ Sir G. CAVEThis prisoner was punished on the 14th January for being in possession of newspaper cuttings and passing them to another prisoner, and also on the 17th January for refusing to work. He refused his food and was forcibly fed at Winchester. He was removed to Pentonville on the 21st and refused to take his food there. Forcible feeding was continued until 2nd February, when he resumed taking his food naturally.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will obtain the sanction of the Treasury to securing for conscientious objectors who may take up exceptional employment cash allowances for boots and clothing and railway fares to their homes or places of employment, inasmuch as these men have been deprived of any opportunity of earning their living for the last eighteen months?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt is not proposed to ask the Treasury to sanction these allowances. The men while employed under the Committee wear boots and clothing supplied by the Committee, and while under exceptional employment they are allowed to earn full wages, which should suffice to cover all their expenses.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary how many conscientious objectors on the Home Office scheme have served twelve months or more; how many of that number have been held to be qualified under the new Rules for exceptional employment; and whether he will place the administration of these rules in the hands of persons who have not the bias against conscientious objectors exhibited by the members of the existing Committee?
§ Sir G. CAVE1,630 men have served twelve months and upwards under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors. The Committee have not 483W yet been able, with the limited staff at their disposal, to consider the cases of all these men; but out of 588 eases considered by them, they have decided 120 to be qualified under the new rules, and others are still under consideration. As regards the last part of the question, I am satisfied that the administration of these Rules by the existing Committee does not exhibit any bias against conscientious objectors.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will have a careful inquiry made into the state of health of Tom Mellor, a conscientious objector at present in Carnarvon Prison, who is hearing the end of his third sentence of imprisonment; and, in view of the man's state of health and the long imprisonment he has endured, will he order his discharge?
§ Sir G. CAVEThis man was discharged from prison on the expiraton of his sentence on Friday last There were no indications of his being in ill-health, and he made no complaints of illness.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will have a careful inquiry made into the state of health of Ethan Shallcross, a conscientious objector at present in Ipswich Prison, where he has been for the last twelve months; and, in view of the allegations that his present treatment has seriously undermined his health and reason, will he, to avoid the likelihood of another death in prison, order the man's immediate discharge?
§ Sir G. CAVEI recently received a communication as to this prisoner's health, and immediately asked for a medical report. The report was to the effect that the man is in good mental and physical health. He has gained weight while in prison, and has made no complaint There appears to be no reason to think that his mental or physical condition has deteriorated or is likely to deteriorate.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary on what principle the rules providing for exceptional employment of conscientious objectors who have been working under the Home Office Committee for twelve months are being administered; whether he is aware that many men who have have had no charge brought against them for more than twelve months are being deemed not to be qualified; and whether he will take steps to see that the 484W administration of the new rules is carried out by impartial and responsible persons in a judicial spirit?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe privilege of exceptional employment is intended for those men whose industry and conduct during a period of not less than twelve months' employment under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors has been exemplary; and the fact that a man has not had any charge brought against him during that period does not in itself qualify him for the privilege. I have no reason to doubt that the administration of these rules is carried out in the manner suggested at the end of the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will give an undertaking that no conscientious objector employed by the Home Office Committee, or employed under the rules regulating exceptional employment of conscientious objectors, will be returned to the Army or sent back to prison, or otherwise penalised for taking part in a strike, lock-out, or other industrial dispute concerning wages, hours of labour, or trade union customs and regulations?
§ Sir G. CAVEI cannot give a general undertaking of this kind. The action of the Committee must depend on circumstances. It is obvious that conscientious-objectors cannot be allowed to refuse the work for which they were released, but the Committee have no intention of using their labour for the purpose of interfering with an industrial dispute on the part of others.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary when it is proposed to restore leave with free passes to their homes to the conscientious objectors employed in Home Office camps and work centres other than those who are authorised to take up exceptional employment under the new rules?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt is not proposed that any such leave should be granted.
§ Sir ARTHUR FELLasked if the rations of the conscientious objectors under detention have been reduced to the same scale as those of the population in the neighbourhood of their prisons; and are they allowed to purchase or receive presents of other articles of food over and above their rations?
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§ Sir G. CAVEI presume my hon. Friend refers to conscientious objectors in work centres. The dietaries for these men are within the rationing scales now in force. They are not allowed to purchase or receive any addition to the dietary of those articles which are subject to compulsory rationing, and steps are being taken, in consultation with the Ministry of Food, to prevent their obtaining excessive supplies of other articles.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether he has received letters and resolutions in reference to the case of Daniel Huxstep, a Salvationist and market gardener, now undergoing imprisonment as a conscientious objector; will he say where D. Huxstep is now; what sentence is he serving; and whether, under the circumstances, this man will have the benefit of the policy announced by Earl Curzon on 4th December, 1917?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have received several letters and resolutions with regard to this man. I find that he was discharged from prison on expiration of his sentence on the 23rd of last month, and thereupon passed again into the jurisdiction of the military authorities. I understand that he has since returned to prison, but I have not yet been able to obtain full particulars.