§ COLONEL NORTHsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the recommendations of the Committee presided over by Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, relative to the Medical Officers of the Navy and Army, and upon which the authorities both of the Navy and Army have been for some time in communication with the Treasury, are likely to be decided upon shortly. He would beg to remind the House that the Committee reported early in February?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I have to state that the circumstances are these:—In July last the College of Physicians wrote to the War Office complaining that the status of army surgeons was unsatisfactory, and to the Admiralty that navy surgeons were both, as to pay and rank, not on a par with army surgeons. In consequence, the War Office and the Admiralty appointed a Departmental Committee, consisting of military and naval officers, and of medical men recommended by the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons to inquire into the rank, pay, and position of the surgeons of the two services. The Treasury were not parties to the inquiry, and they have as yet only been officially in communication with the Admiralty on the subject. When we are in possession of the definite views of both the departments we shall be in a condition to deal with the cases of both the army and navy surgeons at the same time. The question is a very important one, involving a large amount of money, and requires careful consideration.
§ COLONEL NORTHsaid, he wished to know, whether no communication had been received from the War Office?
§ MR. CHILDERSThe War Department has not yet made their recommendations upon the Report of the Committee; but I have been in personal communication with my noble Friend (the Marquess of Hartington) on the subject.