§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Under-secretary of State for War if he is aware that, although the intention has been declared of in future only employing qualified dental surgeons in the Army as dental surgeons, many are still being drafted into combatant units; and, if so, whether instructions will be given that in future they shall be employed in the Army for professional duties only?
§ Mr. WHYTEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, despite an explicit pledge to the contrary, dentists are still being taken for ordinary combatant service, and the nation and the Army thus deprived of a kind of medical assistance of which they stand in the greatest need?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of any pledge of the nature suggested, but, on the contrary, I stated in reply to a question on the 4th March last, that the dental needs of the Army were not such that all qualified dentists serving in the Army can be used for their professional work. I am afraid it is not possible to give an undertaking that no qualified dentists will be posted to combatant units in the first instance, but should any of these be subsequently required, for dental service in the Army, they will be reposted.