§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has arrived at any decision as to the future of the Indian Medical Service; and if he is prepared to make a statement thereon to the House?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI shall be in a position to decide on this question and to make an announcement when I receive the Government of India's recommendations on the Reports of the Army in India Committee (in so far as it deals with military medical organisation in India) and of Sir Verney Lovett's Committee on Medical Services in India. The two Reports have to be considered together. Copies of the Lovett Committee's Report for publication are on their way to England, and I hope to publish the two Reports simultaneously very shortly. Meanwhile, copies of the Report of Lord Esher's Committee have been sent to the Government of India, who will forward as soon as possible their views on both Reports. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the Press communiqué which was issued from the India Office on the 5th July, and contains the revised rates of pay for the Indian Medical Service; also copy of a letter which was sent to the British Medical Association on the 22nd June, dealing with the questions of pay, allowances, pensions, passages, and leave reserve of the service, and the official status of the Director-General and Surgeons-General.
The following is the communiqué referred to:—
The Secretary of State for India, after consultation with the Government of India, announces the following increased rates of 1977W pay for regular officers of the Indian Medical Service, which take effect from 1st January, 1920. The combined rates of basic pay and overseas allowance apply to all officers who were in the permanent service on 1st December, 1918, and to all British officers who have joined or may join the service after that date.
Indian officers who have joined or may join the service after 1st December, 1918, will draw, as from 1st January, 1920, pay in accordance with the basic scale set forth
Rank. Year of Service. Basic Pay. Overseas Allowance. Total Basic Pay and Overseas Allowance. Rs. Rs. Rs. Lieutenant 1 500 150 650 Lieutenant 2 500 150 650 Lieutenant 3 500 150 650 Captain 4 650 150 800 Captain 5 650 150 800 Captain 6 650 150 800 Captain 7 750 200 950 Captain 8 750 200 950 Captain 9 750 200 950 Captain 10 850 200 1,050 Captain 11 850 200 1,050 Captain 12 850 200 1,050 Major 13 950 250 1,200 Major 14 950 250 1,200 Major 15 950 250 1,200 Major 16 1,100 250 1,350 Major 17 1,100 250 1,350 Major 18 1,100 250 1,350 Major 19 1,250 250 1,500 Major 20 1,250 250 1,500 Lieutenant-Colonel 21 1,500 250 1,750 Lieutenant-Colonel 22 1,500 250 1,750 Lieutenant-Colonel 23 1,500 250 1,750 Lieutenant-Colonel 24 1,600 250 1,850 Lieutenant-Colonel 25 1,600 250 1,850 Lieutenant-Colonel over 25 1,700 250 1,950 Lieutenant-Colonel on Selected List. 1,850 250 2,100 Charge allowances and second-in-command allowances for station hospitals will be admissible in addition to the above rates of pay at the following rates:—
(a) Charge Allowance. Rs. per mensem. 1st class hospitals 240 2nd class hospitals 180 3rd class hospitals 120 4th and 5th class hospitals nil
(b) Second-in-Command Allowance. 1st class hospitals 120 2nd class hospitals 90 Dated 5th July, 1920
The following is the letter referred to:
India Office, Whitehall, S.W.1.
SIR, 22nd June, 1920.
In continuation of this Department's letter of the 5th instant, No. M.4784, I am directed to address you on certain questions affecting the Indian Medical Service. The 1978W below, unless they are already drawing pay at a higher rate, in which case they will continue to enjoy the benefit of that rate for so long as they would otherwise have done; but they will not receive any further increment until it is due to them under the basic scale.
The arrangements affecting Indians who join the service after 1st December, 1918, are provisional. Exchange compensation allowance will not be admissible.
Secretary of State understands that in the course of interviews which have taken place between the Medical Adviser at the India Office, on the one hand, and the Chairman of the Naval and Military Committee of the Association and the Editor of the "British Medical Journal" on the other, the following proposals were put forward on behalf of the service:
(1) Pay.—The pay of officers to be calculated on the pre-War scale for charge of a regiment, but to be approximately 50 per cent. in excess of that.
(2) Allowances.
(a) Allowances to be granted for the charge of Indian station hospitals.
(b) Allowances not to be reckoned as part of the 50 per cent. increase, but as additional to it.
(c) All existing general allowances paid to holders of professorial and bacteriological appointments, and certain other special classes of appointments on the civil side to be maintained.
1979W(3) Pensions.—The same relative consideration to be given to officers of the Indian Medical Service as to combatant officers of the Indian Army. (The maximum for the Director-General, Indian Medical Services, being £1,150 a year.)
(4) Passages.—Officers of the Indian Medical Service in military employ to receive the same concessions in the matter of passages as combatant officers of the Indian Army. Officers of the Indian Medical Service in civil employ to receive the same treatment as officers of other Civil Services in India.
(5) Status of the Director-General and Surgeons General.—These officers to have the same rights as the Secretary to the Government in the matter of:
(a) Direct access to the Viceroy or Governor, as the case may be.
(b) Access to documents, and opportunity of forwarding their views to the Viceroy or the Governor, as the case may be.
(6) Leave Reserve.—The cadre of the Indian Medical Service to have a reserve of 25 per cent. for furlough, and 2½ per cent. for study leave, whenever this may be practicable.
2. Points 1 to 3 above have already been disposed of in this Department's letter of the 5th June cited above, and the Secretary of State is about to make a public announcement, communicating the reorganisation of the pay of the Service.
As regards pensions, I am to refer you to the memorandum dated 3rd instant issued by this Office, communicating the revised rates of pension for officers of the Indian Army and of the Indian Medical Service.
As regards passages, there has as yet been no decision on the question of passages for combatant officers, but the Secretary of State is willing to undertake that officers of the Indian Medical Service in military employ will receive the same advantage as those officers, and that those in civil employ will receive such concessions, if any, as may be granted to other officers in civil employ.
The Government of India reported in a despatch dated 26th February, that they had already agreed to the principle that the Director-General and Surgeons-General with provincial Governments should have the right to place their views direct before the Viceroy or Governor when necessary, and that they were then considering the best means of giving effect to that decision. In the meantime, the Secretary of State accepts point 5.
The Secretary of State undertakes to carry into effect the proposals for a 25 per cent. leave for furlough, and 2½ per cent. reserve for study leave, as soon as the strength of the Service permits.
I am, etc.,
(Sd.) S. F. STEWART,
Deputy Secretary,
Military Department.
The Medical Secretary, British Medical Association, 429, Strand, W.C.2.