§ COLONEL BARNEasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether any memo- 1111 rials have been received from Lieutenant Colonels of the Local Service in India, complaining that their promotion to Brevet Colonel, under the terms of his predecessor's Military Despatch No. 180, of the 25th May 1865, has been withheld; and, if so, what reply has been given to the prayer; and, whether his predecessor's Military Despatch No. 180, of the 25th May 1865, is still in force, or whether it has been cancelled; if cancelled, on what date and by what authority?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, no such Memorial appears to have been received in the India Office. The provisions of Sir Charles Wood's Despatch, 180, of the 25th of May, 1865, are still in force, and lieutenant-colonels of the Local Army continue as therein provided to qualify for the rank of colonel after the same period of service in the former grade that would entitle an officer of the Staff Corps to such promotion.