§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for 803 War how many Major Generals' appointments have lately been, or are to be, converted into Lieutenant Generals, what will be the increased cost to the public in pay and allowances, and what is the reason for the conversion; and to what extent will the conversion retard the promotion of Colonels, considering that as soon as the Lieutenant Generals have been reduced by absorption to their fixed establishment, there is to be no minimum fixed establishment of Major Generals, and no Colonel is to be promoted except by selection to fill a vacant Major General's appointment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN, Stirling, &c.)Two Staff appointments hitherto carrying the pay of Major General will in future carry that of Lieutenant General. The appointments of Lieutenant General form a part of the general scheme under which the establishment of General Officers was reduced. Though an addition is to be made to the number of Lieutenant Generals on full pay, the number on half-pay is considerably reduced; and on the whole scheme there is a reduction of expense. The reduction in the number of promotions of Colonels to the rank of Major General necessarily results from the system of giving promotion only on succession to a full-pay appointment. The Colonels, however, who fail to be selected can retire at 57 years of age on the increased retirement of £500 a year, which exceeds the former unattached pay of Major General.