§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Secretary of State for War, If he can state how many retired Army medi- 860 cal officers are now employed, and what saving on the pension list is effected thereby; whether, in order still further to reduce the charges for Non-Effective Services, any increased number will be employed; and, whether the practice will be extended to other Departments?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horneastle)Fifty-nine retired medical officers are now employed. The saving on the pension list is rather nominal than real, as the officer still draws the full amount of his retired pay. The real saving is on the effective list, where the payment is only £150 a-year, instead of the full pay and allowances of an officer on the active list. This for 59 officers cannot be less than £8,100 a-year. In the future there will be a non-effective saving, consequent on a smaller number of officers passing through the effective list. An increase in the number of these appointments in the Medical and other Departments is about to be carried out.