HC Deb 27 February 1862 vol 165 cc795-6
MR. BAZLEY

said, he desired to ask the Secretary of State for India, When his promise to place the Medical Officers of Her Majesty's Indian Army upon a perfect footing of equality with the Medical Officers of Her Majesty's British Army will be carried into effect; and to inquire the reason why Medical Officers of Her Ma- jesty's Indian Army have been so long deprived of Commission, Substantive Pay, Furlough Pay, and Retiring Pensions, according to their relative rank, but which have been granted to the Medical Officers of the British Army, both at Home and in the Colonies, ever since the 1st day of October, 1858.

SIR CHARLES WOOD

said, he was not disposed to admit the correctness of the statement of facts implied in the question of the hon. Member. A Warrant was some time since issued, putting the Medical Officers of both services on as nearly the same footing as to rank and social standing as possible. With regard to Pay and Pensions, they were totally different in the Queen's service and in the Indian Service. To put them on the same footing would be in some cases little advantage, and in others to the disadvantage of the Indian Service. Arrangements were in progress for assimilating the two services in this respect, but it was impossible at present to proceed further, as the Government was waiting for information which they expected from India.