§ SIR COLMAN O'LOGHLEN (for Mr. STACPOOLE)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, If he would explain why the examination of medical officers for promotion to the rank of Surgeon-Major (which has been discontinued in the British Army) is retained in the Indian Army; and, whether such examination is likely to be abolished as unnecessary?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe discontinuance of the examination of medical officers for promotion to the rank of Surgeon-Major in the British Army was coincident with an entire alteration in the constitution of that service, whereby the greater number of those officers will not be eligible for promotion at all, as their term of service is to be only 10 years in all, whereas 12 years' service are required to qualify for promotion to the rank of Surgeon-Major. No such change has been made in the Indian Service, and the grounds whereon the system was originally adopted as desirable in the British service still hold good there. The point has, however, been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State by the Government of 88 India; but, as a Report on the general question of the organization of the entire Indian Medical Service is shortly expected from India, it was determined to await that Report before coming to any decision on this individual point.