HC Deb 25 November 1941 vol 376 cc614-5W
Sir W. Wayland

asked the Secretary of State for War why there is no prospect of promotion to non-commissioned rank for privates in the Army Dental Corps at Army dental centres, casualty clearing stations and military and base hospitals; why the sole exception is made for clerk orderlies in field ambulance units; and is he aware that the ordinary service clerk orderly in the Army Dental Corps who carries no rank has important duties to carry out and responsibilities equal to those of a battalion orderly-room sergeant or battalion quartermaster-sergeant?

Captain Margesson

Promotion to noncommissioned rank is made for clerk orderlies of the Army Dental Corps filling vacancies in the war establishment of certain dental centres, casualty clearing stations, military and base hospitals either at home or abroad, as well as in all field ambulances. There are no authorised war establishments for static army dental centres at home, and non-commissioned officers of the Army Dental Corps are posted to the larger of these, as and when available. The adequacy of the existing proportion of non-commissioned officers for the Corps as a whole is at present under examination.