MAJOR GENERAL SIR PERCY HERBERTasked the Secretary of State for War, What number of First Captains of Artillery and Engineers would be promoted to be Regimental Majors under the proposed new Warrant; what numbers of them are borne in the British and Indian establishments respectively; what increase of regimental pay and allowances would it give in each case; what will be the increase in the Army Estimates for the numbers so promoted; what will be the increased cost to the Indian Government; and, does he propose to provide for the cost falling in the present financial year by a Supplementary Estimate?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the number of first-captains of artillery who will be promoted to be Regimental Majors under the proposed new Warrant will be, on the Imperial establishment, 155; on the Indian establishment, 128—making 283. The number of captains of Royal Engineers will be, on the Imperial establishment, 72; on the Indian establishment, 67—total, 139. When the new battalions are completed in the Engineers there will be 16 more, making a total of 155. Some of these, however, already hold brevet rank. The increase of regimental pay and allowances will be to the Royal Horse Artillery, 4s. 4d. a-day; to the Field and Garrison Artillery, 4s. 8d.; and to the Royal Engineers, 6s.; such officers as require forage also receiving forage allowance. The increase in the Army Estimates for the numbers thus promoted will be for the Royal Artillery, £13,084; for the Royal Engineers, £7,600—making £20,684. I am not precisely informed what the charge to India will be; but before the 1693 plan was adopted communication was held with the India Office as to the mode of payment, in order to avoid the great additional expense under the Indian contract system. Provision has already been made for the cost in this country in the Estimates of the present financial year, and no Supplemental Vote will be required.