§ DR. THOMPSONTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that medical officers who were appointed probationers in the Royal Army Medical Corps, between the years 1880 and 1885, were not allowed to count their six months service at the Army Medical School at Netley as Fart of their Army service; and, seeing that this disqualification has been removed since the year 1885, will he direct that officers who served in the Army Medical School at Netley, between the years 1880 and 1885, will be placed, as regards these years, on a similar ratio to officers appointed since the later date.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The hon. Member has been somewhat misinformed in his data. In the first place the probationary period at the Army Medical School was four months, and not six. In the second place the change in the procedure took place in 1902, and not 1885, by which service which on probation and under instruction at the Royal Army Medical College and Depot Royal Army Medical Corps (for a period of five months) is reckoned. Under these circumstances I am not prepared to ante-date the commissions in the manner suggested.