§ Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Labour whether he will protect the men in reserved occupations with an order as binding as a calling-up order issued for service in the Defence Forces and provide them with the same privileges of declaring themselves as conscientious objectors to military service and its support?
§ Mr. BevinThere is already power to give specific directions to men to take up work of national importance, and this power is exercised in appropriate cases. I do not consider it necessary or desirable to give such directions to all men in reserved occupations. I do not know what the last part of the Question means precisely, but I may point out that all the men referred to have been, or shortly will be, registered under the Armed Forces Act, and when they register the provisions with regard to conscientious objection apply.