§ Mr. Comynsasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that special medical courses are available free to medical officers of the R.N.; that similar courses under similar conditions are denied to medical officers of the R.N.V.R. and will he take steps to remove this differentiation.
Mr. AlexanderI presume the hon. Member is referring to the post-graduate medical courses of up to six months' duration. These courses are provided for the medical officers of the Royal Navy who are making their career in the Navy so that they may be of greater use in their subsequent service. To throw open these courses to R.N.V.R. doctors would involve additional expense which I do not consider would be justified in view of the fact that the careers of these officers lie outside the Service.