§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in 1882 a Warrant was issued promising that majors of Artillery who served seven years as battery commanders would be made brevet lieutenant colonels, that in consequence of this Warrant a considerable number of officers were induced to remain in the Royal Artillery, and can he explain why this Rule has been suddenly abrogated, and if any complaints or remonstrances on this head have been addressed to the late or present Deputy Adjutant General of Artillery by those officers of one of the scientific corps who are now being rapidly superseded by their comrades of the Cavalry?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe brevet promotion referred to came to an end in 1885, and since 1887 its place has been taken by voluntary promotion to half-pay lieutenant colonelcies. I can only refer to the reply I made on February 20 to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, to the effect that this half-pay promotion is almost obsolete, and that I do not see my way to re-open the question.