§ 88. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a number of officers in the Indian Medical Service, now actually serving in France with the field ambulances of the Indian Expeditionary Force are drawing unemployed pay; and whether he will take steps at an early date to discontinue the arrangement under which many officers on active service are classed as unemployed and paid at the unemployed rate?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSUnemployed pay is a somewhat misleading term. The salary of an Indian Medical Service officer holding a specific appointment is made up of grade pay and staff pay. Unemployed pay is the rate of pay allowed to a junior officer who has not yet obtained a specific appointment and is higher than the grade pay which he would otherwise receive. Under orders recently passed all Indian Medical Service officers of two years' service and a good many others will, while on active service, receive as a minimum a rate of pay somewhat in excess of unemployed pay.
§ Sir P. MAGNUSWill the hon. Gentleman inquire as to why members of the Indian Medical Service are complaining very strongly of disabilities in many directions as compared with British medical officers at the front, and will he take some steps to remedy this grievance?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThis is a technical matter, but I should be very glad to look into it with the help of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONAs I raised the same point some months ago, may I inquire whether there will be an opportunity given to discuss this question any time during the next few weeks: it is rather pressing?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSI will see.