§ 29. Mr. Dunnasked the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that Dr. A. H. Bartley, an Anglo-Indian resident for five years in this country and regularly engaged in medical practice, who expressed a desire to join the Indian Medical Service in the Indian Army, has been informed that, being an Anglo-Indian, he will not be entitled to the higher overseas pay, to which other residents in this country who become officers in the Indian Army are entitled; and whether, as the main reason for granting this higher rate of pay is regular domicile in this country and Dr. Bartley will be sacrificing a lucrative practice like many other medical practitioners, steps will be taken to abolish the discrimination revealed in this case?
§ Mr. AmeryYes, Sir. The rule is that the comparatively small number of Indians and Anglo-Indians in this country who wish to receive commissions in the Indian forces, whether in the Indian Medical Service, in the Indian Army, in the Indian Air Force or the Royal Indian Navy, should receive such commissions on the same terms as those which are offered to similar persons in India. I realise that this involves some degree of differentiation between them and others in this country as regards entry into the Indian Services. But it has been considered more important that there should be no differentiation between one Indian or Anglo-Indian and another in those Services. I should point out that it is open to Dr. Bartley and others in a similar position to apply for a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the same terms as other practitioners in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DunnWill the Minister consider that this will mean a difference of £400 a year to this doctor and that if he enlists, it means his wife will be left practically destitute?
§ Mr. AmeryI realise that whatever rule there may be there will be difficulties in marginal cases, but it has been open to this doctor to enter the R.A.M.C on the same footing as others in this country or to enter the Service in the same way as other Indians and Anglo-Indians.
§ Mr. DunnBut this doctor is anxious to go to India to do what he can for his country. Is the Minister aware that there is a war on?
§ Mr. SorensenWhat steps is the Minister taking to see that any discrimination on the ground of colour within the British Empire is entirely eliminated?