SIR TREYOR LAWRENCEasked the Secretary of State for War, When he proposes to issue a Warrant placing Lieutenant Colonels of the late Indian Artillery, who were promoted after September 30th 1877, on the same footing, as regards tenure of command, &c. as officers of a similar rank of the old Royal Artillery List; and, whether he will be able promptly to put an end to the existing uncertainty as to these matters?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the officers referred to come within the provisions of what is usually known as the "Henley Clause" of the Act for the better government of India, by which they have a Parliamentary guarantee for the preservation of rights in the 63 matter of service and promotion. Under that clause it is held that they are not subject to the articles of the Royal Warrant, which provide for removal from regiments after certain periods of command. Every effort has been made by the offer of liberal voluntary retirement—-which offer is still open—to maintain the proper flow of promotion. So successful has this been that, at present, the senior majors on each of the Indian Lists are of shorter total service than those on the Royal List.