HC Deb 22 April 1915 vol 71 cc403-4
58. Mr. WALTER GUINNESS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the sense of injustice caused by the increased rates of pay now given to medical men joining the Royal Army Medical Corps as lieutenants for the period of the War, all lieutenants in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force, who were called out on Mobilisation and who are now serving on 10s. a day less pay than men now joining in the same rank, may at once be promoted to the rank of captain, as has recently been done in the case of all lieutenants in the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps?

Mr. BAKER

The position of these officers is now under consideration. I may add that the difference in emoluments is not as suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. GUINNESS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the medical officers of the Territorial Force made great financial sacrifices and had to leave valuable practices at a moment's notice; and is he further aware that those medical officers are much older than officers of corresponding rank in the Regular Army Medical Corps, and, naturally, cannot look forward to a sufficient length of embodied service to qualify for a retiring pension?

Mr. BAKER

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman that they have made great sacrifices, and, as I have informed him, the case is under consideration.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Are we to understand that the War Office have entirely given up the policy which the right hon. Gentleman made to me on the floor of the House only two days ago?

Mr. BAKER

I do not know to what the hon. Gentleman refers.