HC Deb 14 April 1919 vol 114 cc2542-4W
Major HURST

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 106 Royal Army Medical Corps men are employed solely in whitewashing wails in the Isle of Sheppey for purely civil purposes; whether sixty of them are eligible for demobilisation; and whether he will consider the advantages of releasing the latter to civil life and of handing the work over to the local sanitary authority?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The Royal Army Medical Corps men referred to are not employed solely in whitewashing walls for purely civil purposes. They are employed on special duties for the suppression of malaria in areas in the neighbourhood of military encampments. Whitewashing is a part of the precautions during the spring, but the men are being used for other and much more important antimalaria work as the season advances. A large number of malaria oases will be returned from abroad, and it is necessary that stringent precautions be taken, and these are being conducted in association with the Local Government Board. The figures given in the question are approximately correct. The men eligible for demobilisation will be released as soon as reliefs are available, but it should be understood that large numbers of Royal Army Medical Corps other ranks mutt be retained for the care of sick Slid wounded.

Captain BAGLEY

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of all ranks who were under treatment by the Royal Army Medical Corps personnel at the time of the Armistice and the number under treatment at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will state the strength of the Royal Army Medical Corps in doctors, nurses, and other ranks for the same two dates:

Mr. CHURCHILL

The figures are as follows:

11th Nov., 1918. 4th April, 1919
Numbers of all ranks under treatment (excluding Native Labour Corps and Indian troops overseas) … … 412,482 152,739
Strength of Royal Army Medical Corps — 11th April, 1919.
Officers (not including 980 Dominion and U.S.A. medical officers serving with Imperial forces, and now demobilised) … … 11,193 6,517
9th April, 1919.
Nurses, trained and untrained (including 2,894 Dominion and U.S.A. nurses serving with Imperial forces, and now demobilised) … … 23,931 13,481
31st March, 1919
Other ranks (including men on demobilisation furlough and re-enlistment and re-engagement furlough) … … 127,831 72,731

Mr. WADDINGTON

asked the Secretary of State for War if men serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps have the same rate of pay as men serving in the Infantry; and, if not, what is the difference in the rate of pay, and is there any difference in pay between men serving in India and men serving elsewhere?

Mr. FORSTER

The daily rates of pay (including proficiency or corps pay) are as follows:

  • Royal Army Medical Corps—
    • Privates, 1s. 6d. to 1s. 10d.; Corporals, 2s. 9d.
    • Sergeants, 3s. 8d.; Staff-Sergeants, 4s. 3d.
    • Warrant Officer, Class II., 4s. 6d.
    • Warrant Officer, Class I., 5s. 6d.
  • Infantry—
    • Privates, 1s. 6d. to 1s. 9d.; Corporals, 2s. to 2s. 5d.
    • Sergeants, 3s. 1d.; Company Quartermaster-Sergeants, 4s. 3d.
    • Warrant Officer, Class II., 4s. 9d.
    • Warrant Officer, Class I., 5s. 9d.

Soldiers of British units serving in India draw the same rates of pay as those serving elsewhere. Soldiers of the Royal Army Medical Corps do not serve in India.