§ CAPTAIN JESSELI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the questions in the examination of officers of the Army Veterinary Department for promotion to the rank of veterinary lieutenant-colonel are both framed and also looked over by the Director General; and whether this is the only branch of the service in which an independent board is not assembled for the purpose of examination.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMNo, Sir. The examinations are carried out by a board of veterinary officers.
§ CAPTAIN JESSELI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Director General, Army Veterinary Department, forwards his recommendations for promotion to the War Office on the result of the examination; and whether he is aware that, at the last examination, no questions were asked on subjects connected with administrative duties, although it is laid down in the veterinary regulations that the questions should be chiefly based on administrative duties.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. As regards the last examination, my hon. and gallant friend has been misinformed; some of the questions dealt with important administrative subjects.
§ CAPTAIN JESSELI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to recent statements as to the loss of horses in South Africa owing to the insufficient number of Army veterinary surgeons employed, and that these officers are everywhere overworked and not able to attend to more than a small proportion of the cases of sickness; and whether any retired officers of the Department, who are still available for service through not having reached the age limit, have been employed either at home or in South Africa; if so, could he state the numbers employed at home and abroad, and also how many civilian veterinary surgeons are employed.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMWe have no information confirming the statement referred to in the first paragraph. In regard to the second paragraph, twelve retired veterinary officers are being employed. There are forty-six officers of the Army Veterinary Department in South Africa, five abroad assisting in the purchasing of animals, and thirteen at home. There are eighty-nine civilian veterinary surgeons in South Africa and nine abroad assisting in the purchase of animals. Twenty-one Yeomanry and Volunteer veterinary officers are also in South Africa.