§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Secretary of State for War, If his attention has been called to letters in the "Standard" newspaper of the 4th and 7th instant, headed "A questionable transaction," and if it is the case as therein stated, that a Special Warrant is about to be issued to exempt Sir Andrew Clarke from the provisions of the existing regulations as to ineligibility for promotion on account of age; whether the age as now fixed by Royal Warrant at which a Colonel of Engineers is ineligible for promotion is fifty-nine, and whether Sir Andrew Clarke has reached that age; Whether the local or temporary rank of Major General was given to him to enable him to hold the office of Inspector General of Fortifications, which it is laid down in the Queen's Regulations shall be held by a General Officer, who shall be considered a General of Division, thereby setting aside the claims of other distinguished officers eligible to hold the appointment, and giving him precedence over the seniors in his own Regiment; whether he should not now be retired on account of age; and, what are the circumstances which justify the continued supercession of others, and the evasion of regulations heretofore rigidly enforced?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, it is a fact that a Warrant has been issued exempting officers holding the temporary rank of Major General from the operation of the clauses of the Promotion Warrant which deals with the eligibility of Colonels for promotion and employment after certain ages, and giving 254 them the benefit of regulations applicable to Major Generals so long as they hold that rank. Sir Andrew Clarke, who would be otherwise ineligible for promotion, comes under the operation of this Warrant. The appointment of Inspector General of Fortifications with the rank of temporary Major General was given to Sir Andrew Clarke under the circumstances stated by my Predecessor (Mr. Childers) in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Plymouth (Mr. Stewart Macliver) on the 5th of June, 1882. I will quote his words—
The Inspector General exercises, it is true, certain military functions, but they constitute a small portion of his duties; and Sir Andrew Clarke has been appointed because he is an engineer of great eminence, and has shown the highest qualities as an administrator; and because, as at the present time, proposals of great importance are expected from the Royal Commission on Colonial Defences and the Committee on the Defence! of Mercantile Harbours, we require to be advised by an officer of the very highest engineering, administrative, and financial capacity."—(3 Hansard, [270] 57.)The proposals referred to by my Predecessor are now before Her Majesty's Government, and Sir Andrew Clarke has already given a great deal of time and labour to their consideration. On his advice Her Majesty's Government must largely depend in coming to a decision as to the extent to which these proposals shall be adopted, and as to the measures to be taken for their execution; and, in the opinion of the Government, it is most desirable in the interests of the Public Service that he should continue to be their adviser until further progress has been made in the consideration of the subject.
§ MR. TOTTENHAMAre there any other officers besides Sir Andrew Clarke who have come within the provisions of this Warrant?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI am not aware at this moment; but the Warrant is general in its application.