HL Deb 21 November 1972 vol 336 c948WA
LORD BROCKWAY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many men have been discharged from Her Majesty's Forces in each of the last three years on the grounds of conscientious objection without their having to apply to the Advisory Committee.

LORD CARRINGTON

The Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors has only been in existence for two years. The number of men discharged from Her Majesty's Forces in 1971 on the grounds of conscientious objection without their having to apply to the Advisory Committee was 26. The figure so far for 1972 is 9.

The figure of discharges in similar circumstances in 1970 was 14.

LORD BROCKWAY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many men claiming a conscientious objection to service in Her Majesty's Forces have in each of the last three years applied for discharge to the Advisory Committee, and in how many of these cases have the Committee recommended discharge.

LORD CARRINGTON

Since the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors was set up in December, 1970, it has considered 17 cases, and of these the Committee advised the Secretary of State for Defence that two appellants had a genuine conscientious objection, and they were accordingly discharged. Of these cases, six were considered in 1971, one appellant being successful. Eleven cases have been considered during 1972, one appellant being successful.

House adjourned at a quarter past four o'clock.