§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Minister of Labour how many conscientious objectors of military age, either in Government or other employment, have been directed to work in the coal mines?
§ Mr. BevinI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind conscientious objectors who are exempt from military service on condition that they undertake work of a civil character under civilian control. Such men must do the type of work ordered by the statutory Tribunals. The actual number ordered to work in coalmines is not available, but it is certainly not considerable. The urgent need for additional labour in the mines has, however, led Tribunals recently to give special attention to the possible use of conscientious objectors and coalmining has been specified in some cases.
§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the case of a medical student, details of which have been submitted to him, who has been accepted for admission to study for a diploma of the Scottish Conjoint Board in Edinburgh, but was called up and given the choice of entering as a private in the R.A.M.C. or working in a colliery as a common labourer and was, after a month's trial, found unfit for this work by the colliery doctor and the panel doctor; and as he desires to qualify in medicine and has an opportunity of entering a medical school and, in view of the shortage of doctors which will become worse after the war, whether he can be permitted to do so?