§ GENERAL FRASER (Lambeth, N.)asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is the intention of the Government shortly to alter the present Rules with regard to the compulsory retirement of commanding officers of regiments, so that the regimental command shall be retained for at least four years; and, if so, whether the existing Rules, by which experienced and meritorious commanding officers are now about to be removed at the end of two years, entailing results detrimental to the Service, and a very heavy cost upon the country, might be suspended?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Under the existing Royal Warrant every lieutenant-colonel appointed as such to a regiment from the 1st of January, 1887, is, subject to age, appointed for four years certain. I explained last year, in answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Heneage), the reasons why, in justice to officers of lower rank, the tenure of officers who were already lieutenant-colonels on the date named could not be extended. I may, however, add that in special cases clearly for the good of the Public Service the command of a lieutenant-colonel can be extended for a period not exceeding two years.