Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that circular letters are being addressed by the district military headquarters to medical practitioners in the district requesting the practitioners to fill in a form stating whether, in the event of mobilisation, they would be willing to devote a portion of their time to work in the local military hospitals in order to fill the vacancies created by the withdrawal of regular Royal Army Medical Corps officers for the expeditionary force; whether this registration of doctors for military purposes is being carried out all over the country on his instructions; and, if so, with what object?

Inquiries are being made by the military authorities in various parts of the country to see how far the local civil medical practitioners can be counted on in the event of mobilisation to act in a civil capacity in hospitals in the United Kingdom in place of Royal Army Medical Corps officers until relieved by other Royal Army Medical Corps officers.

Mr. MALONE:

What is the mobilisation which the War Office has in view, and for which these preparations are being made?

No particular mobilisation; any mobilisation.

Is this the usual practice?

It is a desirable practice.

Is it still the practice since this country signed the Pact to renounce war as a matter of national policy?