§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the French Government have appointed, or are appointing, a number of dental surgeons to look after the teeth of the French soldiers; and, if so, will he state what that number is?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is known that the French soldiers are provided with dental treatment, but the War Office have no information as to the number of dentists employed.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked how many qualified dental surgeons have been recruited for combatant service instead of for service as dental surgeons; also if qualified dental surgeons are still being recruited for combatant service; and, if so, whether, having regard to the efficiency of the Army, he will consider the advisability of employing such men as dental surgeons rather than as combatants?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot give the figures asked for in the first part of the question; the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part I can assure the hon. Member that full provision for dental surgeons for the Army has been made, and that all demands to such service for the troops, both at home and abroad, have been supplied. Further, there is a very large number of applicants for dental commissions, and no difficulty is anticipated in meeting any demands which may remain.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked what is the proportion of dental surgeons in the British Army as compared to the number of men; and the proportion in the Canadian Forces and in the French Forces?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot, I think, give the proportion asked for in the first part of the question, as it would be easy to deduce from it information available to the enemy regarding the total strength of the Army. The War Office do not possess the information asked for in the last part of the question.