asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he can state for a date in each three months since March, 1939, the number of those serving sentences as conscientious objectors; and the varying length of their sentences being served;

(2), whether he can state for a date in each three months, since March, 1939, the location of civil prisons, the number of males confined therein, distinguishing between those claiming to be conscientious objectors and others; and how many of the former are serving a second or third sentence under the Military Training Act, and the National Service (Armed Forces) Acts?

Statistics of prisoners are not kept in a form which would enable me to give the information asked for. If my hon. Friend wishes to know how many persons have been committed to prison for failure to comply with the requirements of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, I will have these figures compiled, but it may not be possible to ascertain with accuracy how many of these persons claimed to be conscientious objectors.