§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that conscientious objectors are being now allowed, if returned to prison, to pass immediately to association work with no preliminary period of solitary confinement; and whether he will inquire into the case of two brothers named Runge, at Shepton Mallet, who have apparently not been treated according to the present Regulations?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe Prison Commissioners report that these two prisoners were not allowed to associate with other prisoners for fourteen days as a medical precaution. One of them had symptoms which pointed to the possibility of his having contracted an infectious disease, and the other had been in contact with him.
§ Mr. T. RICHARDSONasked the Home Secretary whether he will obtain the sanction of the Treasury to authorise the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, in view of the fact that the allowance of 8d. per day granted to conscientious objectors employed by the Committee was based on a two-thirds rate of the soldier's pay, to increase this allowance to 1s. per day so as to continue the ratio of two-thirds of the soldier's pay?
§ Sir G. CAVENo, Sir. The reasons which led to the recent increase in soldier's pay do not apply to these men.
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§ Mr. T. RICHARDSONasked the Home Secretary whether he will obtain the sanction of the Treasury to authorise the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, in view of the increase in the cost of living in the last fifteen months, to increase the allowances sanctioned during the last fifteen months to the wives and other dependants of conscientious objectors employed by the Committee?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe question of increasing this allowance where there are children to be provided for is at present under consideration by the Committee.