Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that officers of the Indian Medical Service now stationed in Persia have been in that country for over five years without leave; and whether steps will be taken to replace these officers without further delay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not quite clear from the hon. and gallant Member's question whether he refers to leave to 1899W the United Kingdom or to India. It is possible that a certain number of officers of the Indian Medical Service in Mesopotamia and Persia have not had leave to the United Kingdom during the period mentioned. Everything possible is still being done to relieve officers who have served for lengthened periods without leave but, owing to the shortage of officers of the Indian Medical Service and to the greatly increased number of officers of that Service required for duty in garrisons other than India, it is regretted that no promise can be given to relieve any particular officer. The granting of leave to India is a matter for the authorities under whom the officer may be serving, and I am sure that they are doing all that is possible in the matter having regard to the prevailing conditions.