§ MR. NEVILLE (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether preference is given to officers qualified as interpreters in modern languages with regard to appointments to the Intelligence Department, Military Attachéships at European Courts, or special duties in Europe; and whether there is any practice excluding married Lieutenants from appointment to the Royal Horse Artillery?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe first part of this question is similar to the one of which the hon. Member for Warrington has given notice, and perhaps he will allow me to reply to it at the same time. Such appointments are given to those officers who are considered best qualified on account of their general professional acquirements, and proficiency in modern languages is, no doubt, one of the main qualifications. The inducement to officers to pass the interpreter's examination is the prospect of special employment in time of war, coupled in the case of three of the more difficult languages with a money reward for passing. My answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.