§ Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War what is the present scale of pay and allowances offered to specialists attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps in a civilian capacity, for home and overseas service, respectively.
§ Mr. StracheyCivilian specialists serving at home are paid £1,300 or £1,600 a year according to experience and qualifications. Abroad they are paid £1,800 or £2,200 a year and receive an outfit allowance and a local allowance varying from £25 to £425 a year according to the station and whether they are married or single. These allowances are common to all civil servants of comparable grades. Free single accommodation and, in certain stations, free messing are also provided.
§ Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War (1) what is the present deficiency of Regular commissioned specialists in all branches of medicine and surgery, on the basis of existing establishment of the Royal Army Medical Corps; to what extent the deficiency is being made up by civilian specialists; and what steps he is taking to overcome the shortage of Regular specialists at an early date;
(2) what is the present deficiency of permanent and short service Regular qualified doctors in the Royal Army Medical Corps, on the basis of present establishment; and what is the total deficiency after taking into account National Service doctors; and what steps he is taking to overcome the shortage.
§ Mr. StracheyThe deficiency of Regular, including Regular short service, doctors is 381. This figure includes 13 specialists. Taking into account National Service doctors the total deficiency is 265, which includes 115 specialists. With a view to overcoming these shortages, an examination of the rates of pay of doctors and specialists is being carried out. Sixty-six civilian medical practitioners and 10 civilian specialists have been employed,140W and 49 medical officers, including 12 specialists, have been given type "B" commissions for one or two years or have been granted special deferments. Conditions for short service commissions for women doctors will shortly be promulgated and proposals are now under discussion for reopening short service commissions for specialists which are calculated to attract highly qualified doctors from civil life.
§ Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now bring the emoluments of qualified doctors and specialists serving on Regular commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps into line with those applying under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. StracheyThe rates of pay of medical officers and specialists in the Royal Army Medical Corps are now being examined. Account will be taken of the average earnings of doctors under the National Health Scheme.