§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, In what capacity Dr. Sutherland is employed by the War Department; what pay and allowances he receives; whether he is paid by salary or by day pay when actually employed; and, if by day pay, for how many days in the year he is employed on an average—from what Vote of the Estimates the payment is made; whether the arrangement has received the approval of the Treasury; and, whether there will be any objection to lay upon the table of the House a copy of the terms of his original appointment, and of any correspondence between the War Office and the Treasury on the subject?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON,in reply, said, the House would recollect that at the conclusion of the Crimean war a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into the sanitary state of the Army. The result was that several sub-Committees were subsequently appointed to consider and report upon the best mode of carrying out several of the subjects which had been reported upon by the Royal Commission. Dr. Sutherland, who had been a member of the Royal Commission, was appointed to serve on four of these sub-Committees, and he still continued to serve on one, and the most important of them—that originally called the Barrack and Hospital Committee, and now called the Army Sanitary Committee. The duties of that Committee were to consider and report upon all questions relating to sanitary improvements in existing barracks and hospitals, and the most healthy form of construction for new buildings. Dr. Sutherland's great experience and knowledge in such matters enabled him to render services upon the Committee more valuable probably than those of any other gentleman who could be found. As to the rate of remuneration, it was fixed by the right hon. and gallant Member for Huntington (General Peel) at £3 3s. a day, and afterwards, upon the recommendation of the late Mr. Sidney Herbert, then President of the Royal Commission, it was continued at the same rate so long as he was completely occupied upon these duties. Dr. Sutherland's time had since been entirely occupied on the details of the business of the Sanitary Committee, and he therefore continued to receive the above rate of 442 remuneration. His salary was charged to the Sanitary Vote of the Army Estimates. Under Vote 14 a sum of £20,000 was taken for sanitary services. The arrangement made for the payment of expenses incurred by this Committee was generally approved by the Treasury, and there would be no objection to lay upon the table all the correspondence between the War Office and the Treasury on the subject.
§ COLONEL PERCY HERBERTsaid, he wished to inquire whether there is no Officer in the Army capable of performing the duties of Dr. Sutherland, and whether he is entitled to superannuation?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he was unable to answer the question of the hon. and gallant Member, whether there was no officer of the army who was qualified to discharge the duties performed by Dr. Sutherland? It was the opinion of the present Secretary of State, and it had been the opinion of two or three of his predecessors, that these duties were better performed by Dr. Sutherland than they could be by any other person. He was unable to answer the question relative to Dr. Sutherland's superannuation; but should rather imagine that, under the circumstances, he was not qualified to receive superannuation.