HC Deb 19 June 1963 vol 679 cc453-4
39. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the special terms offered to medical students to become officer cadets in the Army; and what have been the results.

The Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary for War (Mr. James Ramsden)

To qualify for the medical cadetship scheme, a medical student must have passed his second M.B. or equivalent examination and be prepared to serve after registration for a minimum period of five years with the Royal Army Medical Corps. When accepted he is granted a probationary commission as a Second Lieutenant. He is then entitled to Army pay and allowances and in addition the War Department pay his tuition fees. So far 139 students have been accepted under the scheme.

Mr. Hughes

I agree that this scheme is beneficial to the Army, to the public and to medical students in general. Would the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there is no bias against Scottish medical students?

Mr. Ramsden

I am glad to hear the hon. and learned Gentleman welcomes the scheme, which I agree is a good one. I think that it will help to increase the total number of entrants into the medical profession, both civilian and military. As regards the numbers from Scotland entering the scheme, the figure is 24, which I think is more than in proportion.

Mr. Paget

Is this really a good system? Is this system whereby various Government Departments try to poach people who are urgently required under the National Health Service a sensible way to do it? Would it not be far better to have the National Health Service dealing with the medical requirements of all Government Departments, including the Army?

Mr. Ramsden

As I believe was explained to the hon. and learned Member when he raised this question before, this has to be seen against the background of a transition from a system under which doctors were conscripted to one under which they have to be persuaded to join voluntarily, and the rewards offered under this scheme reflect the added disturbance which doctors in military life have to experience compared with their civilian counterparts.