asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a conflict at Knutsford between certain civilians and conscientious objectors; whether the conscientious objectors arm themselves with sticks for the purpose of defending themselves; and, if so, whether he will see that these men are drafted immediately into the Army so that their pugilistic tendencies may be utilised in the service of their country?

My attention has been called to this occurrence. I am informed by the chief constable that a series of attacks on conscientious objectors returning to their quarters at Knutsford developed on Sunday into an attack on fifty or sixty others who were standing outside the work centre. About half of these had sticks, apparently in anticipation of an attack, but only two or three of them were seen to defend themselves and these used their fists and not the sticks. The men were rushed by the crowd, who took possession of the sticks and used them. Summonses have been issued and the whole matter is being effectively dealt with.

Is it not right that the Military Service Act says that a conscientious objector is a man who objects to fighting, and surely this was fighting, and therefore they cannot be conscientious objectors?

The hon. Member is not asking a question, but is arguing the matter.

Is the same course taken with regard to conscientious objectors as against others? Are these conscientious objectors regarded as members of the public?

I think some of the summonses were against persons who assaulted others, but, of course, we are dealing with the whole matter.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will inquire into the case of Private Padgett, No. G/18289, 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, now in No. 2 Military Prison, Rouen, formerly of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who has refused to obey military orders owing to a conscientious objection to military service; and whether he can be brought to England so that his case may come before the Central Tribunal, and an opportunity given him to undertake work of national importance?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of National Service if, in his calling up of miners, he has in mind the impending shortage of coal; and, if so, what methods does he propose to prevent a famine in fuel?

The Minister of National Service is glad to be able to assure my hon. Friend that the recruitment of coal miners has been adjusted in the closest co-operation with the Controller of Coal Mines, and the necessary steps are being taken to safeguard the output of coal.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that the medical instructions to the National Service medical boards with regard to the grading of men of from forty- three to fifty-one years of age are not issued to the public, although the previous medical instructions for younger men were so issued; what is the reason of this differentiation; and whether the decision not to issue the latest instructions to the public may be reconsidered in the interest of equal treatment of older and younger men?

My hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension. National Service Instructions 87 and 88, of 1918, which deal with the Subject referred to by my hon. Friend, were circulated to Members of both Houses of Parliament immediatey after issue. They were widely published in the Press, and 10,000 copies were distributed to the Government information kiosks, where they can be obtained free on application.

Would the hon. Gentleman state whether other instructions are issued to the medical boards which have not been made public and are not available to the general public?

I am quite unable to answer that.

asked the Minister of National Service whether men of eighteen years of age coming within the operations of the Military Service Acts should appeal within the time allowed under the Act of 1916 or under Regulation R 185 of the Military Service Act, 1918?

Any applications to tribunals on the part of men coming within the operation of the Military Service Acts, 1916 to 1918, on attaining the age of eighteen, must be lodged within the limits of time provided in the Military Service Regulations, 1918, published under reference R185.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether in all other industries except agriculture there is a right of appeal to an Appeal Tribunal, but, in the case of agriculture, there is no appeal unless leave is given by the Agricultural Executive Committee; and, if so, why this distinction is made against agriculture?

I have been asked to answer this question. In ordinary agricultural cases there is the same right of appeal as in other cases. As regards young men engaged in agriculture who, with others of the same age, come within the recent Proclamation, the limited right of applying to the Appeal Tribunal is given as a special concession.

Is it not the fact that there is no appeal to an Appeal Tribunal except with the leave of the War Agriculture Committee? Is that the case with agriculture and with no other industry?

That is the case; but certainly the War Agricultural Committee is very likely to view with very great favour any case on occupational grounds that comes before them. In other cases there is no right of appeal on occupational grounds for people who are within the ages and come within the Proclamation.

asked the Under secretary of State for War if he will further inquire into the allegation that the medical officer charged with the examination of the men of the furlough details recently attached to the 4th Battalion Welsh Fusiliers at Oswestry, but transferred on the 6th April to the 4th Reserve Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment; has been passing men as fit for overseas without a proper examination; will he inquire if a medical examination of these men was ordered for the Egyptian details, that the medical officer of the unit gave the medical examination which resulted in about thirty men being marked unfit, but that, on the following day, these men were again paraded for examination by the same doctor and practically all passed as fit, with the result that eleven of these men were taken ill and admitted to hospital on their arrival at Southampton, some of them having to be conveyed to hospital in ambulances; whether this medical officer has received instructions to pass these men as fit If they could travel at all; and will he say why these men have since been transferred to the 10th Battalion Liverpool Scottish?

I am making further inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Under secretary of State for War if he will have a special medical examination made of Gunner 308049, B Company, 16th Battalion, Tank Corps, Bovington Camp, who is passed A 1 by a medical board, though suffering badly from glandular tuberculosis, with open wounds in the neck and abdomen, and who at the time of his classification as A 1 was awaiting instructions from the Glasgow Western Infirmary authorities to undergo a fourth operation for glandular tuberculosis; and will he further make inquiries as to why a youth in this physical condition was passed into the Army at all?

I will have inquiry made into this case, but I should be glad if my hon. Friend will furnish me privately with the man's name in order to avoid unnecessary correspondence with the Record Office.

asked the Minister of National Service whether Indian civilians retired upon an invalid pension at an earlier age than fifty-one are liable to Conscription into the ranks?

These men, if within the limits of age laid down by the Military Service (No. 2) Act, 1918, are liable under that Act in the same manner as any other men, and they have the same rights of application to tribunals for exemption as are possessed by other men in accordance with the Regulations for tribunals.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has inquired into the case of Ellen Carter, who was, on 10th May, sentenced at Eastbourne to six months' imprisonment under Regulation 40 D; whether the two soldiers concerned in this case were called as witnesses; whether the woman underwent medical examination; and whether he will consider a reduction of this sentence?

I am making inquiry as to this case, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the number of Russians, including Russian Jews, who have been allowed to come into this country since the 1st January this year; and if he can state the number of other aliens of friendly nationalities, not including those in navies or armies, who have come into this country since the same date?

Excluding Russian officers and soldiers passing through this country between France and Russia, 249 Russian passengers have been admitted since the 1st January last. A considerable proportion of these were en route to other countries, and in all cases the aliens officers were satisfied that there were good reasons for their admission. None of them were immigrants coming to settle here, and it is believed that (with the exception of one woman who was afterwards sent back to Russia) none were Jews. For the reasons explained to the hon. and gallant Member on previous occasions, I regret that the figures asked for in the second part of the question are not available.

Are Czechs and Poles included amongst the Russians, and can the right hon. Gentleman say what precautions are taken to prevent enemy aliens as well as Russians coming into this country under the pretence that they are Belgians, Frenchmen, or of some other nationality?

All Russian subjects are included in the figures I have given. As to nationality, the authorities verify the nationality of applicants.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many rooms are now utilised in the London County Council building at Westminster Bridge; and is it now in contemplation to utilise the workmen at present engaged on temporary buildings all over London in completing this permanent structure instead of engaging in work which must shortly be demolished?

One hundred and twenty-one rooms are now being utilised, and a further eighty-four rooms are being prepared for occupation. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.