§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught receives any pecuniary emolument as Colonel in Chief of the Rifle Brigade, and of the Regiment of Scots Guards, to which he has just been appointed; and, by what regulations as to length of service, and by whose recommendation, these Colonelcies are given to general Officers?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the Colonelcy-in-Chief of the Rifle Brigade is an honorary appointment. The Colonelcy of the Scots Guards would carry pay if held by an officer who, having been a General Officer before July 1, 1881, elected to remain on the 1479 former rate of unattached pay, with succession to the Colonelcy of a regiment. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught is not in that category, and consequently receives no pay as Colonel of the Scots Guards. Regimental Colonelcies are conferred on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, with the approval of the Secretary of State. As a general rule, they fall to the General Officer of longest service; but the rule is subject to exceptions in special cases. Members of the Royal Family have always been recognized as exceptionally situated with regard to the Colonelcies of the Household Regiments.
§ MR. HEALYasked the noble Lord, whether he could state that the Duke of Connaught, by accepting these honorary Colonelcies, was not shutting out any other officer from promotion?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONUndoubtedly, Sir, if the Commander-in-Chief had recommended the appointment of an officer of the first category, to which I have referred, that officer would have become entitled to pay of the Colonel—£2,000 a-year. It is, proposed, however, as these prizes in the Army are held by officers under the New Rule, that the Army should be, to a certain extent, compensated by the appointed of a Field Marshal. I cannot exactly state how soon that Regulation will come into force; but I do not think that, except the individual officer who might have boon appointed to this Colonelcy with pay of £2,000 a-year, the Army in general will suffer in any degree by the appointment which has boon made.
§ MR. J. R. YORKEdesired to know whether the result of this arrangement was that £2,000 a-year was saved to the country?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONNot altogether. As I have said, the arrangements are not yet completed. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught will not draw the pay of Colonelcy. The Field Marshal who will be subsequently appointed being an old and distinguished officer of high rank, that probably will lead to the vacation by that officer of an ordinary regimental Colonelcy, which will then become available for another officer.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREDo I understand the noble Marquess to say that 1480 His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught will not receive any pay for either of these Colonelcies?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREIn that case there will be two Field Marshals appointed.
§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDI understand from the noble Marquess that it is intended to appoint another Field Marshal. Having regard to the fact that the existing Field Marshals are either men of very advanced age or else Members of the Royal Family whom the interests of the country prevent from being sent on foreign service, I would ask whether the noble Marquess is disposed to recommend that an effective officer shall be appointed to that high rank?