§ 61. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the highest rank in the Navy is that of surgeon-general at a full-pay rate of £1,300 per annum; and, if so, whether this fact was taken into full consideration when the arrangement was made to remunerate consultants for shore duty at the rate of £5,000 per annum?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)A surgeon-general of the Navy, when employed at any of our naval hospitals, draws a salary of £1,300 and charge pay at the rate of £182 10s. per annum. He is also in the occupation of a house valued at £70 per annum. All the facts bearing on the question were taken into consideration when deciding the remuneration to be paid to the consultants.
§ 64. Mr. JAMES HOPEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the number of civilian doctors now in the service of the Navy is in excess of the needs of that service; and whether he would sanction the transfer of a limited number of such doctors to the service of the Army?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In these circumstances it would not be possible to adopt the suggestion contained in the second part. As regards the special consultants to whom reference has been made in an earlier question, if a specific request were made for the help of one of them for any particular operation or for any special consultation, it would certainly be acceded to if it were possible; but the daily duty that has to be performed by these gentlemen in naval hospitals would not allow of the utilisation of their services by the Army to a greater extent than this.