§ MR. SOAMES (Norfolk, S.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in terminating the engagements of civil surgeons attached to the Royal Army and there is no present intention of Medical Corps, inasmuch as by the conditions of their appointment such surgeons are required to devote their whole time to Army duties, the services of those who hold civil appointments in addition will be dispensed with before those of gentlemen holding no such appointments.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The engagements of the civil surgeons who are devoting their whole time to military duty, and which are liable to termination on the services of an Army Medical Officer becoming available, are quite distinct from those of civil surgeons who do not devote their whole time to military duty, and which are liable to termination at any time, such appointments being made locally. The latter are available always to meet local difficulties, and are paid considerably less than the former. The proposal of the hon. Member would therefore throw additional expenditure on the State without any corresponding advantages.