§ MR. BAZLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true or not, as stated in the United Service Gazette and Some News, that the Indian Medical Warrant has been cancelled? If such be the case, what measures are to be taken as regards the pay and organization of the Medical Department, and when will those measures be reported to the House? and why, pending such changes, Medical Officers in India have not at least received the pay of their relative ranks?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, in reply, that he had introduced a Bill last year for the purpose of enabling the Secretary of State for India to obtain a sufficient number of assistant surgeons from those who had entered the Queen's general service by competition to form a Medical Staff Corps for India. The House was pleased to throw out that Bill on the third reading, and he was therefore compelled to maintain a separate establishment for India. 925 The Government of India had written in very strong terms, pointing out the great disadvantage and great additional expense caused by the maintenance of the double establishment; but no step had been taken in consequence of those representations. The statement, therefore, implied in the question of his hon. Friend was entirely incorrect; the Warrant had not been cancelled, and as far as he had heard, great satisfaction was felt by the Medical Officers in India at their position and pay.