70. Lord H. CAVEMDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numbers of medical officers who joined the Army voluntarily in 1914 or before the passing of the Military Service Acts have persistently applied for demobilisation, and that their applications have been refused; whether some of these medical officers are receiving £'60 a year less than others who voluntarily enlist for a further six months though there is no certainty that these volunteers will not be demobilised on or before the same date as the others; whether large numbers of younger medical ' officers have been demobilised after short periods of service; whether, if so, there is any justification for this different treatment; and whether he can make any promise with regard to the early demobilisation of the medical officers referred to or, alternatively, can undertake that their rate of payment during service shall be not less than that of the medical officers who consent, often for personal reasons, to stay in the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am aware that many medical officers who joined the Army voluntarily before the passing of the Military Service Acts, and who afterwards came under the provisions of those Acts, are still of necessity retained on military service, and that some of these officers are receiving less than those who have undertaken to serve for a further period of six months. A considerable 1798 number of medical officers with comparatively short service have from time to time been demobilised for special reasons, more particularly in order to meet the urgent needs of the civil population, and in accordance with the demand of the Ministry of National Service. Medical officers are now being demobilised in order of priority, having regard to length of service, age, etc., immediately they can be spared. I regret it is not possible to extend the terms given to officers who bind themselves for a definite period to those who will not undertake this obligation.