§ Mr. DILLONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increasing demands by the War Office on the medical profession, and the great number of casualties amongst doctors in the field, the War Office will exempt all medical students of one year's standing and upwards from liability to be called up under the Military Service Acts?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Army Council has been in close touch with the medical authorities, and the need for providing for future needs of the medical profession has been given full weight. As the hon. Member is aware, under present arrangements a large measure of protection is given to medical students; none of those who are within twenty-four months of qualification are called up for service, while of those in the earlier years only men fit for general service or classified B 1 are called up. In view of the present need of men of these categories for combatant service, it is not considered that in the national, interest any alteration of the present arrangement should be made.