§ 84. Sir WATSON CHEYNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if dissatisfaction exists with regard to the more recent methods of dealing with the pay of temporary surgeons in the Army Medical Service; is he aware that a medical officer, now over the mitliary age, joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1915 voluntarily on a contract for a year at 24s. a day and £60 gratuity at the end of the year, payment of which sums was made, and that in 1916 he renewed the same contract for a year with the same result; is he aware that in 1917 this medical officer was asked to renew his contract not yearly but till termination of the present emergency or until his services were no longer required, whichever shall occur first, and he did so on exactly the same terms as to pay and gratuity, but that when it came to the end of the year he was told that his gratuity was not to be paid till the end of the War, and seeing that the contract did not say anything about delay in paying the gratuity, will he explain why the gratuity is withheld; and will he take steps to remedy the matter and to ensure the gratuity being paid annually as it was before this medical officer signed this last contract?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)Gratuities are usually paid at the termination of service, and the renewal contracts for temporary service with the Royal Army Medical Corps contemplated payment on completion. The question, however, is receiving further consideration.
§ Sir W. CHEYNEWill the gratuities carry interest while the matter is being considered?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe whole question of the date on which the gratuities become payable is receiving attention.