§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether an executive officer of the Medical Staff in India, who officiated 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 performed the duties 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 hold pecuniarily liable in the event of loss of stores or other mistakes; and, whether officers officiating on the Military (Combatant) Staff, in a similar way, draw the half-staff for the broken periods; and, if so, why the difference is made in the case of medical officers?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)No reply has yet been received to the despatch on the subject, which was addressed to the Government of India in July last. The Secretary of State will call the attention of the Government of India to the delay which has taken place.