§ COLONEL MAKINSasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he could explain why Major Derriman, Royal Marine Artillery, has not been seconded in his Corps whilst serving as an Adjutant in the Auxiliary Forces, as is the 736 custom in the Army, and has been the custom in the Royal Marines hitherto; also whether, considering that the length of service of the senior Captains of the Royal Marines exceeds that of any branch of the Service, a scheme of promotion, by length of service, will be prepared for them similar to that proposed for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I beg to inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the number of majors of the Marine Artillery is in excess of the peace requirements of the corps sufficiently to allow an officer to be temporarily taken for other duties. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will not forget that the number of majors in the Marine Artillery has been increased within the twelvemonth from eight to 14. With regard to the other Question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I have to say that the Admiralty and the War Office are at the present moment in communication on the subject of promotion by length of service in the higher grades of the corps of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Royal Marines.