HC Deb 10 August 1920 vol 133 cc208-9
18. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have yet, as it was promised they should do after the War, and as again promised by the Minister on the 22nd March last, considered the creation of an Imperial Medical Service, or other steps, with a view to efficiency and economy of effort; and with what result?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Yes, Sir; the proposal put forward by my hon. and gallant Friend has been carefully considered, but the Council are not satisfied that it would b practicable or in the best interests of the Army, and they are not therefore prepared to carry the matter further. I would, however, point out that the Army is only partially concerned with the question of the formation of an Imperial Medical Service, and that there are other Departments, namely, the Ministry of Health, which are more vitally interested.

19. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the advisability of guarding against the breakdown of medical arrangements and of securing greater physical efficiency in military operations by placing the Director-General of the Army Medical Service on the Army Council with responsibility and power to secure the full consideration of health matters and the execution of all medical arrangements?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Whenever matters affecting medical organisation or administration are under consideration, the Director-General, Army Medical Service, is called upon to give the Army Council the benefit of his advice. I do not think, therefore, that there is any advantage to be gained by making him a member of the Council.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

Is it not realised that the Director-General has to deal with a very large number of medical problems that arise in ordinary strategic questions, and as to which he alone can give any information?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Yes, Sir, that has been very carefully considered. Of course, we have the benefit of the advice of the Director-General of Medical Service at any time, and of a great many other very highly skilled technical officers, but that is not a reason for adding these officers to the Army Council.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

How-does the right hon. Gentleman propose to get over the difficulty that hospital arrangements in a campaign come under the head of three different Departments, and three different members of the Army Council? There must be divided councils, and you will get difficulties arising, as they always arise.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I do not think there is any great difficulty in practice arising from that. As a matter of fact, most of the Admiralty Departments serve two or three Lords of the Admiralty, and the idea of a common service department rendering service to different departments of the administration is not in the least inconsistent with good administration.

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