§ MR. M'COANasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that Captain Butler, 9th Regiment, has been granted eighteen months' sick leave from India, his illness having been contracted in and by the Service while surveying on the Perso-Turkoman Frontier, as shown by proceedings of a medical board dated 4th July 1879, Murree, India; whether it is a fact that, at the conclusion of his eighteen months' sick leave, he reported himself fit for duty, and a medical board passed him as such, but that while waiting for his orders a severe recurrence of his illness seized him, upon which he sought the independent medical advice of Dr. Russell-Reynolds, and that Captain Butler forwarded his doctor's certificate corroborating the above illness, and stating that it was quite unsafe for this officer to proceed at this season to India, but that in a few months he would be quite recovered; and, if so, on what grounds he is now refused sick leave, the last board held on him having sat before his relapse above mentioned; whether there is any provision in the Queen's Regulations, or elsewhere, drawing a hard and fast line as to the limit of sick leave to be granted to officers who have lost their health in and by the Service; whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return of the names of such officers as have received sick leave within the last five years, showing the total terms of such leave granted to each; and, whether the sickness for 1453 which they have been granted has been contracted in and by the Service, or otherwise?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, it is the case that Captain Butler was granted 12 months' sick leave from India, which leave was further extended for six months; but he was informed that if, at the expiration of that period, he was still unfit for service, he would be called upon to resign. However, he reported himself fit, and was so found by a medical board, and was accordingly ordered to embark for India. On the day before he should have embarked he sent in a certificate from a civil doctor stating that he was unfit to return to India, and he asked for four months' more leave. Upon this, he was called upon to retire. There is another reason, not medical, that makes Captain Butler unwilling to return to India—that is, as he himself officially states, a belief that he will be arrested for debt as soon as he arrives in Bombay. There is no provision in the Queen's Regulations as to the limit of sick leave, each case being considered on its merits. I do not propose to lay on the Table such a Return as the hon. Gentleman suggests. I do not believe that it is the wish of the House to interfere in questions of this kind, which are essentially for the Commander-in-Chief, under the responsibility of and subject to an appeal to the Secretary of State.