§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that A. K. Brown, a conscientious objector at present in Birmingham Civil Prison, who has already served three sentences of imprisonment, is now in a very serious state of health, being troubled with insomnia, constipation, and throat trouble; and whether he will call for a Report?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have obtained a medical report in this case. The prisoner is not very robust and suffers from slight throat trouble, but he has no serious illness such as would justify interference with his sentence.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that D. Gillingham, a conscientious objector, who has been in prison or detention for nearly three years, is now in Wands worth Prison in a serious state of health, and appears to be suffering from hæmorrhage of the lungs; and whether he will now call for a report?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe medical officer reports that this prisoner is not in a serious state of health, and has had no hæmorrhage of the lungs. He is in hospital with a slight attack of influenza, but is recovering, and will leave the hospital as soon as the weather improves.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that R. A. Jones, a conscientious objector, who was sentenced in April, 1918, to a second term of two years' hard labour which he is now serving in Walton Gaol, Liverpool, has been confined for many months to his cell and is not being allowed any privileges such as letters, or visits, or even exercise, and is not permitted to attend any 1229W religious service; and whether he will investigate the case and call for a report as to this man's health?
§ Mr. SHORTTThis prisoner refuses to do any work in prison and has consequently forfeited the privileges of letters and visits. He has also refused on several occasions to take exercise. He attends the weekly Wesleyan service. The medical officer reports that he has been admitted to hospital with symptoms of indigestion, but otherwise he has no illness.
Colonel, WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant a period of furlough to Private A. Kemble, No. 3160, 5th Southern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, a conscientious objector who has been court-martialled three times and was released on the 20th March at the completion of a sentence of two years' hard labour, and whose wife and three children are seriously ill?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLFurlough is a privilege which is granted to well-conducted soldiers. A soldier, therefore, who defies all authority and refuses to subject himself to the conditions under which other soldiers serve, cannot expect to be accorded such a privilege. In the event of the dangerous illness of relatives, a commanding officer would, I think, be justified in considering whether under those very special circumstances the soldier concerned might be given the opportunity of seeing such relatives. If, therefore, Private Kemble's relatives are dangerously ill, he should apply to his commanding officer for such consideration as the latter may be able to afford.