§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition, signed by 1,186 trades unionists and others of Bristol, asking for the release of the thirty- 411W five Bristol men conscientious objectors to military service, many of whom have been over two years in prison; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have received the petition referred to. If any of the men mentioned are suffering seriously from ill-health, or if any of them are found by the Central Appeal Tribunal to have a genuine objection to military service and are willing to undertake work under the Committee on the Employment of Conscientious Objectors, I should be prepared to consider the question of their release. Otherwise I have no authority to intervene in the case of sentences passed by court-martial.