§ 33. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total number of officers and other grades of European origin and of non-European origin employed in the Malayan Medical Service at 1st January, 1946, and at 28th February, 1947, respectively; and the ratio of increase of salaries to compensate increased cost of living that is being paid to the members of this service.
Mr. Creech JonesThe information requested in the first part of the hon. Member's Question is not immediately available in this country. I have, therefore, asked the Governors for a Report, and will write to the hon. Member when I receive it. As regards the last part of the Question, a cost of living allowance is payable to European and Asiatic officers alike. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a statement giving details of this allowance, from which he will see that it is calculated on a basis which cannot be expressed as a ratio of salary. All public salaries in Malaya are to be reviewed by a commis- 178 sion, whose investigations will begin this month.
§ Mr. FletcherIs the Secretary of State aware that any breakdown in the Malayan health service at the present juncture, particularly when there is a great deal of disease there, would be a disaster? Would he see that the discontent in the service is promptly dealt with, so that we carry out our first obligation?
Mr. Creech JonesThat matter is well in hand now that the salaries commission has been appointed. It will start its investigations straight away.
§ Dr. Haden GuestWould the right hon. Gentleman put into the OFFICIAL REPORT the information he said he was going to give to the hon. Gentleman opposite?
§ 35. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to increase and improve the Malayan Medical Service and to retain its present members; and whether he will consider offering the necessary inducements to service medical men stationed in Malaya to encourage them to join the Malayan Medical Service rather than to return to this country.
Mr. Creech JonesAs regards improvements in the Malayan Medical Service, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Rees-Williams), on 24th February, and to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt), on 19th March. With regard to the second part of the Question, inducements are offered to Servicemen by allowing increments of salary in respect of the years spent on war service.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Secretary of State see that further real inducements are given? Otherwise there is considerable danger of the medical services being seriously depleted and breaking down