§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, before employing civil practitioners in affording medical aid to the troops, every effort has in the past been made to obtain for that purpose the services of retired Army medical officers; and whether these be retired on pension and liable to recall, or appeared in the monthly Army List up to December, 1897, as liable to recall?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordEvery effort is being made to utilise the services of suitable retired medical officers, whether retired on gratuity or otherwise. The preference, however, is given to those who are in receipt of retired pay.