§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Leslie James Hayley, formerly employed at the War Office as a clerk in the printing and stationery department, who registered as a conscientious objector, and who has been given an Army commission to serve overseas with a new branch of the War Office printing and stationery department; and whether he can make a statement on the case?
§ Sir E. GriggMr. Hayley was appointed last December to a commission for duty in the Army Printing and Stationery Services overseas. He is an established civil servant who was performing duties of the same kind as those which he is now performing in a military capacity, and was selected for that reason. I understand that the tribunal before which he appeared ordered his registration for non-combatant duties in the Army, and his ordinary duties in the Army Printing and Stationery Services are of that character. The question whether officers who have conscientious objections to combatant service should continue to hold commissions is under review.