MR. ACLANDasked the Secretary of State for War, What is the reason of the distinction between candidates for commissions in Her Majesty's Army Medical Department and candidates for commissions in Her Majesty's Indian Medical Service with regard to the marks gained by them at Netley, which in the case of the candidates for the Indian Medical Service are counted, and in that of the candidates for the Army Medical Department are not counted, in the totals which determine in each case respectively their order of merit; and, whether it is intended to maintain that distinction?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the examination at the conclusion of the Netley course is, in the case of Army Medical candidates, a pass examination merely, their relative precedence having been settled at the entrance examination. With the Indian candidates, on the contrary, the Netley course is competitive, and aids in determining 1501 the position during subsequent service. The system for the British officers was deliberately adopted, after very full inquiry, by a Committee appointed to consider the causes of the unsatisfactory supply of candidates for the Army Medical Service, which took evidence on this particular point.