§ MR. FINDLATERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, having 1499 regard to the cases of wounds and sickness which have occurred amongst medical officers during recent campaigns, he will take into consideration the justice of extending to the Army Medical Department the privilege now enjoyed by all combatant officers of counting as full-pay service towards retirement any time on half-pay, not exceeding one year, when such half-pay has been necessitated by sickness incurred in and by the Service; also such half-pay as results from reduction of the Department, not exceeding two years, as laid down in Army Circulars, March 1st 1880?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to my hon. Friend, I fear that I cannot undertake to lay down the broad proposition that non-combatant officers are to have all the advantages of combatant officers, unless the converse be also accepted—that is to say, that they are to have all the disadvantages. The regulations as to the retirement of medical officers have been so recently settled that I cannot undertake to re-open the question; but when I have more leisure I will look into it.