§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can consider applications for the Indian Staff Corps and the Army Service Corps from Subalterns of the Royal Marine Artillery, who were appointed before the rule prohibiting any transfers was made, and who joined the Service in the full belief and expectation that they would be allowed the 360 privileges expressly declared by the Admiralty to be open to them?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI fear I am unable to sanction any exception to the rule now in force, which was only adopted after its necessity had been proved. I should explain that the officers of the Marines have no claim or prescriptive right to these appointments, and the Admiralty must exercise their discretion as to whether or not they can spare officers or allow them to serve in corps unconnected with the Naval Service.