§ Mr. Coleasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the negligible entry into the Army of medical and dental officers makes it difficult to maintain a satisfactory standard of efficiency in those branches of the Service; what steps are being taken to make conditions of service more attractive; and if he will increase the present rate of emolument received by medical and dental officers in the Army, which compare unfavourably with those obtaining in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. M. Stewart:The present shortage of medical and dental officers in the Army is well recognised. A joint investigation into the problem is being made by the three Service Departments with the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. Coleasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that officers promoted to full colonel from the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Army Veterinary Corps retain that rank for a maximum of four years, whereby promotion to colonel is kept fluid; and if he will consider applying the four-year limit to officers promoted to full colonel from the Royal Army Dental Corps, where there is at present no such limit, and consequently a block in promotion to colonel where numbers are small.
§ Mr. M. Stewart:The establishment of full colonels from the Royal Army Dental Corps was greatly increased in 1948 and it is considered that the prospect of promotion to this rank is now satisfactory without the introduction of a four-year limit for the retention of the rank.