HC Deb 19 May 1915 vol 71 cc2319-20
34. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the following surgeons, Sir G. H. Makin, K.C.B., F.R.C.S., Sir A. A. Bowlby, C.M.G., F.R.C.S., Mr. F. F. Burghard, M.S., F.R.C.S., Mr. W. T. Lister, M.B., F.R.C.S., Mr. H. M. W. Gray, M.B., F.R.C.S., and the following physicians, Sir W. P. Herringham, M.D., Sir A. E. Wright, M.D., F.R.S., Sir J. R. Bradford, M.D., F.R.S., and Sir B. Dawson, K.C.V.O., M.D., are employed at the Front at ordinary Royal Army Medical Corps salaries; and whether he has any difficulty in getting eminent doctors to serve in consulting positions either abroad or at home at the ordinary rates of pay given to the officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps?

Mr. BAKER

The officers named are employed at the Front with pay as colonels of the Army Medical Service, and so far there has been no difficulty in obtaining eminent medical men to serve in consulting positions either at home or abroad at the rates of pay offered.

66. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will give the number of doctors in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the active and Special Reserve lists at the present time; and what is the number in the Territorial Medical Corps?

Mr. TENNANT

The numbers are:—

Army Medical Service and R.A.M.C. 1,008
Re-employed retired R.A.M.C. Officers 174
Special Reserve R.A.M.C. Officers 623
Temporarily Commissioned Officers 3,100
Territorial Force R.A.M.C 2,122
7,027

68. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the number of lieutenants, captains, majors, lieutenant-colonels, and colonels in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 31st July, 1914, and the 31st March, 1915; and why there have been no promotions other than those arising in the ordinary course of service from the rank of captain to major?

Mr. TENNANT

The numbers are:—

Cols. Lt.-Cols. Majors. Capts. Lieuts. Total.
31-7-1914 29 128 341 379 127 1,004
31-3-1915 99 225 185 477 — 986

There have been fourteen promotions from captain to major other than in the ordinary course of service.

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Do not these figures show a very great lack of promotion from captain to major?

Mr. TENNANT

That may be so, but I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that he is not accurate in stating there have been no promotions; there have, in fact, been fourteen.