§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Pensions whether the increase of salary of £50 per annum to be given to full-time medical officers of the Ministry whose services are being retained was in lieu of bonus or gratuity; and if not so granted, will he explain why it is granted, seeing that the work has been and is steadily diminishing in comparison with that of the past five or six years?
§ Major TRYONThe increase in question is not of the nature either of a bonus or a gratuity, but is part of a general revision of the rates of remuneration of the administrative medical staff of the Ministry. On this point I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a previous question by him on this subject on the 12th ultimo. In regard to the last part of the question, I would point out that while the work of the Ministry as a whole has diminished, the staff has also been reduced to a corresponding extent, and the work and responsibilities of individual officers remain as great as before.