§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is at present time any difficulty in securing suitable candidates for the vacancies in the Colonial medical services, more especially those in the West Indies; what steps, if any, he has taken, and proposes to take, to secure action in the direction recommended by the Report of his predecessor in respect of the medical services in the West Indies; whether, pending amelioration of conditions of service along the lines recommended in the Report, the Colonial Office proposes to continue recruiting for these services in this country; and, if so, what steps are being taken to advise intending candidates of the difficulties with which they will have to contend if they take up these appointments?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThere is no serious difficulty in securing suitable candidates for vacancies in the Colonial medical services, except as regards appointments in West Africa and a few other posts for which it is only possible to offer small salaries. Effect has already been given to many of the recommendations regarding the medical services in the West Indies made by the President of the Board of Education when he was Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies,496W but financial exigencies have prevented the realisation of some of his proposals. I know of no grounds for thinking that the conditions of service in the great majority of the Colonial medical services are not satisfactory. Recruitment for these services is being continued in this country, but has been discontinued in the case of a few posts at low salaries in some of the poorer Colonies. As full information as possible with regard to the terms and conditions of service is given to all intending candidates.