§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. C. H Norman has issued a writ for a declaration, inter alia, that the agreement under which the latter is working under the Home Office scheme is void as being obtained by misrepresentation and under duress, and as being against public policy; and whether he will direct that proper 220W facilities should be given to Mr. Norman in order to enable this action to be adequately prepared for trial?
Mr. SAMUELI am aware that such a writ has been issued. I understand from the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors that Norman is now employed by them at their work centre at Warwick. No obstacle will be put in the way of his consulting his legal adviser there, or of his spending in the manner suggested by the hon. Member the leisure time which he has at his disposal every day.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will endeavour to arrange with the Foreign Office for passports to be granted to conscientious objectors who have been found to be genuine conscientious objectors by the revision section of the central tribunal to permit them to leave Great Britain should they so desire?
Mr. SAMUELUnder the arrangements announced by the Prime Minister last June, the persons referred to in the question are offered work of national importance. It is not proposed to depart from those arrangements.
§ Mr. WILESasked the President of the Local Government Board in how many cases the provisions of Clause 5, paragraph 16, of the Local Government Board Circular R 36 have been acted upon?
§ Mr. LONGI am not able to state how many persons at present hold certificates of absolute exemption on the ground of conscientious objection. I may add that it appears to me reasonable that a man exempted on conscientious grounds should be required to undertake; work of national importance, unless there are very special reasons to the contrary.