§ LORD LAMINGTONMy Lords. I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to reconstruct the Indian Medical Service, and to provide adequately for the medical needs of the people of India.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, since the last occasion on which this question formed the subject of discussion in your Lordships' House, I have been in constant correspondence with the Government of India, who, in their turn, 835 have consulted the Provincial Governments in India with a view to constructing the future organisation of the Medical Services in India. I have recently received from the Government of India their final proposals. My comments on these were forwarded to them on February 17. Pending the receipt of their reply I am not in a position to give to your Lordships the full details of the scheme which it is proposed to adopt, but its cardinal features are: First, the retention of the Indian Medical Service and the necessary war reserve of trained medical men; secondly, the provision of European medical attendance for European officers of the superior Civil Service, and their families; and, thirdly, the creation of Provincial Medical Services, recruitment for which will be carried out by the local Governments themselves. I anticipate that it will be possible to bring the new scheme into operation at no distant date.