§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)(for Mr. DIXON - HARTLAND) (Middlesex, Uxbridge) asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the officer commanding the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, who is stated to have reported unfavourably upon Major Roe, is the commanding officer under whom he actually did the duty of major during the years 1886–7; and, if not, whether it is upon the adverse Report of an officer only recently appointed to the command that Major Roe is deprived of the step in rank to which he is properly entitled by long service; and, whether, assuming that Major Roe is not able to do duties which he has actually performed for three years, it is a fact that the remaining seven captains are so inefficient that none of them are fit for promotion, although the drill and discipline of the battalion has been reported to be in the highest state of efficiency up to the date of the honourable Charles Edgcumbe's resignation of the command in 1887?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The selection of officers for promotion is made by the Commander-in-Chief, on information which appears to him to be proper for his guidance, after careful consideration. As I have already stated, in the opinion of the officers commanding the battalion, the officers commanding the Regimental District, and the General Officer commanding the District, it would not be for the good of the Service to promote Major Roe. No decision has yet been come to as to how the vacancy shall be filled.