Lieut.-Colonel PINKHAMasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of Regular Army officers, by ranks, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps that have voluntarily retired from the Army since February, 1919; if he can assign any reason for such retirements; and if the same conditions of pay, promotion, and retirement as for the Royal Army Medical Corps will be extended to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs regards the first two parts of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, the number is ten, but no reasons can be assigned for these retirements, which were entirely voluntary. As regards the, last part, the pay up to the rank of captain is the same as in the Royal Army Medical Corps; in the higher ranks it is rather less. Pensions are the same. The conditions governing promotion are very similar—in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps to captain after five years' service and major after ten years' service; in the Royal Army Medical Corps after three and a half years and twelve years respectively. Promotion to lieutenant-colonel and higher ranks is by selection in both branches. The conditions for the Royal Army Medical Corps are being considered with a view to seeing if any departure from Army Order 324 of 1919 is necessary, and if any change is decided upon the Royal Army Veterinary Corps will be included.