§ MR. ELLIOTT LEES (Birkenhead)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether it is the fact that 62 regimental officers serving in the Ordnance Store Department have been ordered to rejoin their regiments on the termination of their appointments; whether he is aware that, when the Army Service Corps was formed out of the Commissariat and Transport Staff, the regimental officers serving with the Commissariat and Transport Staff were given the option of continuing their service in the Army Service Corps; whether his attention has been drawn to the promise given by the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, in the House of Commons, on 2nd August 1879, that the Ordnance Store officers would receive treatment "on all fours" with the Commissariat and Transport Staff; and, whether the War Office contemplate the appointment of Artillery officers at enhanced rates of pay over the heads of the present senior officers in the Ordnance Store Department?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANRegimental officers now serving in the Ordnance Store Department will rejoin their regiments on completion of the periods of service in terms of their engagements. Only such officers as were selected from the Commissariat and Transport Staff for service in the Army Service Corps were given, the option of 1621 continuing their service in the latter corps. It must be remembered that the organisation of the Supply Department of the Army has been completely changed since 1879. It is not contemplated to appoint Artillery officers over the heads of officers at present serving, except in one or two cases in the highest ranks, where the establishment will be increased so that no hardship will arise.
§ MR. ELLIOTT LEESHas the Commissary General been consulted?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have no doubt that everybody concerned has been consulted?