§ 57. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Under-Secretary for War whether certain lieutenants of the Royal Army Medical Corps Special Reserve serving in France were given to understand some months ago that their names had been noted for transfer to the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps; whether they have been gazetted accordingly and, if not, when they may expect to be gazetted; whether their transfer on being gazetted will be antedated to the time that they were noted for the change; and whether, as the transfer was entered in some cases before the recent general promotion of Regular Royal Army Medical Corps lieutenants to be captains, those who were noted for transfer prior to the general promotion will be included in the list for captaincy and be gazetted accordingly?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo promise of a transfer to the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps has been given, but a certain number of lieutenants of the Special Reserve and temporary lieutenants have made applications for permanent commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and their requests have been noted for consideration in the event of it being decided to give direct commission instead of, in the usual way, by open competition. The question of the date from which such appointments would take effect and what rank would be given would be for consideration when the matter is settled.
§ 59. Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will undertake to refrain from transferring men who enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps before the passage of the Army Act Amendment (No. 2) Act from the non-combatant to the combatant branches of the Service, having regard to the fact that the men in question enlisted in the belief and, so far as they knew, on the distinct understanding that their services would be utilised for the purpose for which they were volunteered?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot give my hon. Friend any absolute pledge to abstain from using, in the case of men of the Royal Army Medical Corps, the powers conferred by the Act to which he refers, but I think I can assure him that the consideration he urges will be borne fully in mind.
§ Mr. TENNANTWe always endeavour to carry out the wishes of the men in the matter of transfer.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of the Scottish Royal Army Medical Corps desired to join the Royal Scots, and were not allowed to do so?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am looking into that.