§ 7. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether the Army Council has refused the 154 request of the British Medical Association that the officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps who patriotically came forward before the War as Territorial and Special Reserve officers should have their position in regard to pay, allowances, and gratuities brought level with that of the temporarily commissioned contract officers by an increase in the gratuities to which they are entitled on demobilisation; (2) if he will say on what grounds the Government negatived the recommendation of the Departmental Committee of 1917 that officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force and Special Reserve, who joined before the War, should be put on a level with temporarily commissioned contract officers as regards pay, allowances, and gratuities where they would gain thereby; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by the junior medical officers of the Territorial Force and Special Reserve at the refusal of the Government to remove this injustice?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I have nothing to add to my previous replies on this subject. The British Medical Association brought forward no considerations that were not fully appreciated by the Cabinet Committee which decided this question.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWould the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what criterion the War Office adopts in this matter? Do they consider that those who join first should be, at least, treated as well as those who join last?
§ Mr. FORSTERWith these officers, like soldiers and other officers, it is partly a matter of the terms of the contract of service.