§ MR. MORRISON (York, W.R., Skipton)asked the Secretary of State for War, The grounds for stopping the promotion of Majors of the Royal Artillery on the Home Establishment, without any corresponding reduction in the promotions on the Indian Establishment; if there is precedent for effecting so large a change by Army Circular in place of a Royal Warrant, or Parliamentary Estimate, and for making such Army Circular retrospective; and, if it 22 is proposed to absorb the officers affected so as to avoid supercession and extensive compulsory retirement?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Promotion on the Home Establishment of the Royal Artillery has been temporarily suspended in consequence of reductions in the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Major. Promotion in the Indian cadres is held to be protected by the Parliamentary guarantee known as the Henley Clause, and cannot be curtailed. A Royal Warrant may determine the conditions for promoting; but except in the case of time promotion the actual steps can only follow vacancies, which depend upon establishment. Every establishment is sanctioned by Parliament. The mode of carrying out the present reduction is still under consideration.