§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that an executive officer of the Medical Staff in India, who officiates for less than one month as Deputy Surgeon General, in the absence of the Deputy Surgeon General on sick leave or furlough, receives no allowances for the period, although he performs the duties 336 in addition to his other duties; whether, in such an instance, the "half-staff" of the appointment reverts to the State; whether the acting officer would be held pecuniarily liable in the event of loss of stores or other mistakes; whether officers officiating on the Military (Combatant) Staff, in a similar way, would draw the "half- staff" for broken periods; and, why the difference is made in the case of the medical officers?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)If an officer were regularly appointed to officiate as Deputy Surgeon General, he would receive pay as such; but if merely appointed to take charge of the current routine clerical work of the Office, he does not receive any extra allowance for this temporary duty. (2) Yes. (3) The Government of India report that he would be liable, but only I imagine to the extent to which he is personally responsible. (4) There is no parallel between the two, as the one is an Administrative Department, the other an Executive one.