HC Deb 18 May 1915 vol 71 cc2159-61W
Mr. GINNELL

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of medical officers of local administrative

bodies in England and Wales who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them by those bodies generally in regard to continuance of salary, payment of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

The number of medical officers of health serving with the naval or military forces, so far as the Local Government Board know, is 171, and the number of tuberculosis officers and assistant tuberculosis officers so serving is fifty-two. I have no information as to the number of officers who have volunteered but are not serving. A large number of assistant medical officers of health, superintendents of isolation hospitals, Poor Law medical officers, and school medical officers are also serving, but I have not the precise figures as to these classes of officers. In the Local Government Board's memorandum of the

21st August, 1914, it was intimated to local authorities that they might properly grant leave of absence to officers in their employ who were already in His Majesty's Forces, or who joined them with their permission, and might properly make such allowances in respect of salary as they thought reasonable in the particular circumstances. Generally speaking, local authorities pay such officers during their absence the difference between their Civil pay and their Navy or Army pay, keep their positions vacant for them, and appoint temporary substitutes where necessary.

Mr. GINNELL

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of medical officers of local administrative bodies in Ireland who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them by those bodies generally in regard to continuance of salary, payment of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

Mr. BIRRELL

About twenty-six or twenty-seven Poor Law medical officers have been granted leave of absence to join the Army Medical Service. Their positions will be kept open for them. In some cases the guardians are paying the medical officer his salary and also paying the substitute; in others the salary is paid to the temporary substitute only.

Mr. GINNELL

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of medical officers of local administrative bodies in Scotland who have volunteered for service in the present War; the number of them serving; and the treatment of them by those bodies generally in regard to continuance of salary, payment of substitute, and keeping their positions vacant for them?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I have no information as to the total number of medical officers of local authorities in Scotland who have volunteered for service. There are, so far as I am aware, 17 public health medical officers, 32 poor law medical officers, and 26 school medical officers (of whom some may also be health officers) who are or have been serving. I am informed that their posts are as a rule kept open for them. Health officers either receive full pay and nominate their own substitutes, or, if the local authority makes arrangements for carrying on their work, receive full pay less military pay (or a part thereof). In the case of the school medical officers, the local authorities have made arrangements to secure them against any financial loss. I have no information as to the financial arrangements in the case of Poor Law medical officers.