§ 13. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a decision has now been reached as to granting passage concessions to Indian officers who entered the Indian Medical Service by competitive examination in London?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, Sir. The Government of India are issuing a statement, the substance of which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ My Noble Friend has decided that all officers of the Indian Medical Service, including those of Asiatic domiciles, shall be required before promotion to the rank of major to complete the Senior Officers' Course at the Royal Army Medical College, Millbank. Attendance at this course will count as duty and carry with it free passages to and from the United Kingdom.
§ Officers of the Indian Medical Service of Asiatic domicile will, immediately after completing this course, be regarded as eligible for a period of study leave, during which they will retain a lien on their free return passage to India.
§ Those officers of Asiatic domicile now on service who by reason of their age are disqualified from attending the Senior Officers' Course will be eligible once during their service for a free passage to England and back when proceeding on study leave.
829§ The Government of India have, however, not found it possible to give full effect to the scheme in the present financial year.