§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that the Lords of the Admiralty have decided to allow those officers of Royal Marines who qualified in each subject but failed in the aggregate (at the examination for promotion held in January 1884) to pass; and, whether he will grant the same indulgence to those officers of the Army who, at the same examination, qualified in each subject but failed in the aggregate?
EARL PERCYasked, whether a major in the Royal Marines, who was suspended for not passing his examination in June, 1883, passed last January, and was reinstated?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI am informed that the statement of the hon. and gallant Member (Colonel Colt-hurst) is correct; but that the Lords of the Admiralty have intimated that the indulgence now granted is not to be taken as a precedent for future examinations. I am not prepared to adopt the course which has been taken by the Admiralty; but some points raised by the noble Earl the Member for North Northumberland (Earl Percy) are still under consideration, and as soon as a decision has been arrived at I will inform the House.