HC Deb 29 May 1919 vol 116 cc1432-4W
Mr. CAIRNS

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now prepared to reinstate in their posts Civil servants who refused to undertake military service on conscientious grounds; and whether any discrimination is to be made as between men who accepted the obligation of alternative service imposed by tribunals and those who declined to accept this obligation and as a consequence were sent to prison?

Mr. BALDWIN

This question is receiving careful consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Sir HOWELL DAVIES

asked the Secretary of State for War (I) whether W. M. Green, No. 42289, 4th Gloucestershire 'Regiment, a Bristol miner, of twenty years of age, who, being a Seventh Day Adventist, refused to obey military orders on religious grounds, has been court-martialled three times and is now serving a sentence of two years' hard labour in Bristol Prison; and whether he will now remit this man's sentence;

(2) Whether Gilmore Dando, No. 51355, Gloucestershire Regiment, a Bristol Primitive Methodist, was court-martialled for the second time in January, 1919, and is now in Bristol Prison; and whether he will now remit the remainder of this man's sentence?

Mr. FREDERICK ROBERTS

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether Richard George, No. 23570, B Company, 3rd Royal Sussex Regiment, a conscientious objector, who is suffering from chronic rheumatism, chest and heart trouble, was court-martialled for the third time in December last, is now serving his third sentence in Maidstone prison; and whether he will forthwith remit this man's sentence;

(2) Whether F. C. Dennett, 112th Training Reserve Battalion, a member of the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers and Confectioners, who was first arrested as a conscientious objector in September, 1917, is now serving a sentence of two years' hard labour in Pentonville Prison; and whether he will now remit the remainder of this man's sentence?

Mr. HARTSHORN

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether J Errington, Royal Fusiliers, 4th Reserve Welsh Regiment, a South Shields miner, was court-martialled for the second time in February, 1919, for refusing to obey military orders and sentenced to twelve months' hard labour; whether he will now remit this man's sentence;

(2) Whether Victor Frank, No. 324320, 6th London Regiment, aged 35, was arrested as a conscientious objector in April, 1917, and is now serving a sentence of eighteen months' hard labour in Winchester Prison; whether he will now remit this man's sentence;

(3) Whether Harold Eley, No. 62494, Lincolnshire Regiment, a Wesleyan and a Sunday school teacher, is now serving a sentence of twelve months' hard labour as a conscientious objector in Wormwood Scrubbs Prison; whether this man is joint tenant with his mother, who is too old to do much work, of a 210-acre farm, on which his help is urgently needed; whether he will now remit the remainder of this man's sentence;

(4) Whether G. E. Cooke, No. 67616. 5th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, a member of the Pentecostal Church, was court-martialled for the second time in October, 1918, for disobeying military orders on religious grounds, and is now serving a sentence of two years' hard labour in Ipswich Prison; whether this man, who has a wife and four children dependent upon him, was, prior to his arrest, general manager to a business firm, the directors of which have applied several times for his release; and whether he will now remit this man's sentence?

Mr. FORSTER

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement made on the 3rd April in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Plaistow and to the reply given on the 1st May to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland which explained the policy with regard to the release of conscientious objectors and others who are serving terms of imprisonment.