§ 76. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is at present a shortage of medical officers in the Colonial service; whether this is an obstacle to the health and development of the Colonies and is largely due to the comparative un-attractiveness of the service; whether he has now received and will publish the Report of the Committee which has recently investigated the subject; and will he state in what way and how soon he proposes to introduce the required and obvious remedies?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Lieut.-Colonel Amery)I am aware that the shortage to which my hon. Friend refers does exist, and that it is by no means confined to the Colonial Service. Improvements in the pay of medical officers have already been carried out in the majority of Colonies and Protectorates. The Secretary of State has recently received the Report of the Committee referred to. It requires careful consideration, and I am not yet in a position to say what action will be taken upon it or whether it will be published.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman be able to make any announcement during the Recess or immediately after?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI hope to announce the decision of the Secretary of State immediately after the Recess.