§ 22. Mr. HOHLERasked the Under secretary of State for War, whether pensioned non-commissioned officers who may be called up under the Military Service Act, 1918, will be entitled to the rank and position they held on discharge to pension?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to my replies to questions by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ludlow on Monday last.
§ 23. Mr. HOHLERasked the Under secretary of State for War whether the Army Orders requiring the employment of qualified dispensers were altered after his attention had been drawn to the fact that an unqualified person of military age was being employed at No. 2 London General Hospital, and in order to enable the authorities to retain this man, though there were a number of qualified women on the waiting list; is he aware that this man's medical category was B 1, and will he say when it was reduced to B3; and 2134 whether it was so reduced after an examination by a travelling medical board; and, if not, will he have this man medically examined by such a board, and give the result of such an examination?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. and learned Friend is under a misapprehension. The Regulation regarding the qualifications of dispensers was made during the South African War; it was renewed in September, 1914, and has been in force since then. The suggestion that it was introduced or altered to meet the case of Corporal Heaseman is, therefore, incorrect. This non-commissioned officer was examined by a travelling medical board in August, 1917, and was then placed in category C 3, which under present Regulations is now B 3. He has been re-examined quite recently, when the classification B 3 was confirmed, and the Board directed that it was not necessary for him to be again examined for a period of six months.