§ DR. FARQUHARSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Report of the Committee on the pay and position of Naval Medical Officers will be circulated before the next examination of candidates for the Medical Service of the Navy?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Report on the pay and position of Naval Medical Officers will be presented to Parliament when the correspondence on some minor points in the scheme has been terminated with the Treasury. The scheme has, however, virtually been settled, and may shortly be described as follows:— Ever since 1854 it has been understood that the pay and position of Naval Medical Officers shall be 7 per cent better than the pay and position of Army Medical Officers, in order to counterbalance the advantages of the two Services. The position of Army Medical Officers was improved by the late Government on such a scale that there is no difficulty now in obtaining suitable candidates. The scheme which I shall have the honour of laying before the Committee, in moving the Estimates, gives a proportional improvement to Medical Officers in the Navy, placing them on a scale 7 per cent better than the improved scale in the Army. The new scheme of pay, position, and retirement will come into force on the 1st of April next. It may be mentioned that successful candidates will receive full 61 pay as surgeons from the moment of entering the Service.