§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the setting up of a committee to consider and advise the Government in regard to the formation and powers that could be advantageously exercised by a unified policy staff for the three fighting forces?
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§ The PRIME MINISTERThe question of the co-ordination of the staffs of the three fighting services was exhaustively examined in 1923 by a sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, whose recommendations have since been put into operation and are working satisfactorily. I cannot see any advantage in reopening the question at the present time.
§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a committee to consider the present possibilities of reorganising the three chaplains' services in the fighting forces into a unified service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis matter has been carefully considered by His Majesty's Government. It has been found that no economy in personnel or expenditure would be effected by the amalgamation of the Chaplains' Departments of the Navy, Army and Air Force into one Department common to all three services; but that some economy could be effected by close co-operation between the services. Permanent machinery, consisting of a Joint Committee on which the three Chaplains' Departments are represented, and a Joint Board for Nonconformist chaplains, was set up two or three years ago to carry out this policy; and considerable economies have been effected.
§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a committee to consider the present possibilities of reorganising the three medical services in the fighting forces into a unified service?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe question of the amalgamation of the medical branches of the three fighting services was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government some We or three years ago, when it was decided that this step was undesirable. A Standing Joint Committee, on which the Ministry of Pensions Medical Department is also represented, has been set up to discuss matters affecting the medical services of the four departments. The question of the pay of officers of the medical branches of the three fighting services, and all matters ancillary thereto, is at present being considered by a Committee set up for the2018W purpose, as indicated in the reply given on 16th November to theh hon. Member for Southwark Central.