THE case of a former Salvation Army captain who claims he was sacked after he developed a debilitating illness will form part of a government review of religious employment rights.

Former Salvation Army captain Paul McNab, 45, of Heol Hamelin, Abergavenny, says he was dismissed by the religious organisation when he developed myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) which causes chronic tiredness and muscle pain.His wife Norma, 53, also an auxiliary captain, also lost her job.

But because people employed by religious organisations are deemed to have a covenant with God, rather than any church, he cannot take his former employer to an industrial tribunal.

The Salvation Army says there are a "range of issue" involved in his leaving. The case has been taken up by Monmouth MP Huw Edwards, who yesterday told the House of Commons that Mr McNab had been dismissed from the Salvation Army "when he was sick, without any medical examination".

Prime Minister Tony Blair told him: "We are specifically looking at the issue of those employers with religious faiths. His case is germane to that review and will be taken into account."

Mr Edwards told the Argus that clergy and others employed with religious faiths should have the same rights as other workers to take action in an industrial tribunal if they felt they had been unfairly dismissed.

"They have no rights because they are not deemed to be employed," he said.

Mr McNab and wife Norma had been auxiliary captains for the Army for ten years when they say they were sacked in May. The couple, with sons Gareth, 21, and Allistair, 19, abandoned promising careers in nursing to join Salvation Army.

But they claim their house, allowance and company car which were provided by the Salvation Army were taken away by bosses, even though Mr McNab claimed they knew he would recover.

He said: "I felt it was unjust. They said they were being very Christian-like."

Mr McNab admitted he knew there were no employment rights when he and his wife joined the Salvation Army but hoped to modernise the organisation from within.

But added: "We were told we were contracted with God, not man, but we always believed we should have the rights."

Mrs McNab said: "We believe it is time for the law to change for people in all denominations, to give clergymen rights of employment."