§ Mr. HAZLETONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Office had received a resolution 452 unanimously adopted at a meeting of the members of the medical profession, held under the auspices of the Bombay Medical Union, submitting that the present system of reserving all high and important posts in the medical service of India for military officers of the Indian Medical Service had led to the systematic exclusion of Indian doctors from them, no matter how highly qualified or deserving those Indian doctors might be; whether he was aware that the system in question had given rise to discontent and imposed unnecessary expense of over £100,000 on the Indian revenue; and what steps it was proposed to take in the matter?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State has not received the resolution referred to; on the general subject, I would refer the hon. Member to the correspondence recently presented to Parliament as to the steps that are being taken to promote the growth of an independent medical profession in India by throwing open to the profession in general some of the various Civil appointments now held by officers of the Indian Medical Service and other similar appointments which may be created in future.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIn making these changes has the Secretary of State had regard to the needs of the large number of English officials in India?
§ Mr. REESWould not the expense of Indian administration be greatly increased if military medical officers were not engaged in Civil employment in time of peace, inasmuch as a double set of officers would have to be retained?