HC Deb 23 April 1917 vol 92 cc2052-4W
Mr. T. RICHARDSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of conscientious objectors who have been recommended by the Central Tribunal for Friend's ambulance unit work, and the number who have accepted and the number who have refused to undertake such work?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 12th March by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board to the hon. Member for Bradford, West.

Mr. RICHARDSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of conscientious objectors recommended by the Central Tribunal for the Non-Combatant Corps and the number respectively who are obeying and disobeying orders?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The answer to the first part of the question is 100 approximately. I have no information in regard to the second part.

Mr. RICHARDSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Arthur Hatfield, of York, a conscientious objector to military service who was granted exemption from combatant service by his tribunal, accepted work under the Home Office scheme, which he took up at Warwick, and was subsequently transferred to Weston-super-Mare; whether he is aware that Mr. Hatfield was arrested while on Home Office work by the military without any complaint having been received, and was charged with being an absentee from the Army; and, seeing that the chairman of the bench of magistrates commented on the action of the military authorities, will steps be taken to prevent the frequent recurrence of such acts on the part of the military?

Mr. BRACE

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors requested the Army Council to recall this man from Army Reserve W to his unit, as he has failed to observe the conditions on which he was released from prison and excused from military service. I understand that his arrest was consequential upon his failure to comply with the notice ordering him to report himself for service with his unit.

Mr. RICHARDSON

asked why William Darrock, of Glasgow, a conscientious objector to military service, who accepted work under the Home Office scheme at Ballachulish Camp, has been arrested by the military?

Mr. BRACE

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors requested the Army Council to recall this man from Army Reserve W to his unit because he had not observed one of the conditions on which he was released from prison and excused from military service, namely, that he should work with diligence and fidelity. In spite of repeated warnings, he made no serious endeavour to do the work given him.