§ Mr. HARTSHORNasked the Minister of Labour whether instructions have been-issued to the Employment Exchanges to the effect that the men who have recently been discharged from the work centres under the Home Office Committee for the Employment of Conscientious Objectors are not to receive unemployment benefits; and, if so, whether there is any justfication for this penalisation of men who have-been engaged on work of national importance and have been deprived of their means of livelihood without due notice?
§ Sir R. HORNEInstructions to the-effect stated have been issued with regard to certain conscientious objectors, numbering in all about 700 men, who had been for less than twelve months at work under the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors, or whose conduct 0r industry had been unsatisfactory during, the period of their employment. I may add that these men are not debarred from any benefits to which they may be entitled' under the contributory scheme of Unemployment Insurance set up by Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911.
§ Mr. HARTSHORNasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that A. V. Bullock, a conscientious objector who was arrested in March, 1918, and is now serving a sentence of one year's hard labour 73W in Walton Gaol, Liverpool, is suffering from chronic rheumatism and heart trouble and is in a very poor state of health; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to this man's release on health grounds?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe condition of this prisoner's health has been brought to my right hon. Friend's notice by the medical officer of the prison, and he has found the report sufficient to justify him in authorising his release.