25. Captain O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any Regulation under which medical students who have joined the Army before completing their professional studies are being released from service in order to become fully-qualified doctors; whether this Regulation, if it exists, is obligatory or merely permissive; and if he can state the number of medical students who have been so released?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 21st August. Under instructions issued last August medical students of any year, who have been duly registered on the books of the General Medical Council and who are not fit for general service, are to be relegated to the Reserve and required to continue their medical studies. I have no figures available of the number so released.
Captain O'NEILLCan the hon. Gentleman say whether it is not the case that a number of medical students who are fit for general service have actually been recalled from the front, or allowed to come, with a view to completing their course; if so, whether they have given any undertaking to the effect that later, when they are qualified doctors, their services, if required by the War Office, will be available?
§ Mr. FORSTERCertainly. I will have that carefully looked into.