§ COLONEL HUGHES-HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Colonels, before promotion to Major General, undergo medical examination; if so, when the Order came into force, and how many Colonels have been so examined and pronounced unfit?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Under the terms of the Royal Warrant a Colonel cannot be promoted to be a Major General unless the Commander-in-Chief certify that he is competent to command in the field.
763 One important factor in this competence is physical fitness; and His Royal Highness requires the aid of a Medical Board to enable him to certify. The present arrangement took effect from December, 1885; but up to this time only two Colonels have been declared physically unfit.