§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that much dissatisfaction exists among the officers of the Indian Staff Corps, owing to the fact that the rate of promotion is much more rapid in the British than in the Indian regiments serving in India, the consequence being that officers of more years and experience in the Staff Corps constantly find themselves commanded by British officers of much shorter service; whether the rates of promotion for the Staff Corps were originally fixed with express reference to the British rates of promotion, and have remained so fixed, although the British rates have been accelerated; whether he is aware that the grievances arising from different rates of promotion among officers serving side by side was recognised as long ago as 26th May 1858, when the Court of Directors, writing to Lord Ellenborough, described them as injurious supersessions, and again in 1864, when they were described in G. G. O., No. 632, as extensive supersessions of officers; and whether he will personally examine the question, and endeavour to make such alterations in the rules regarding promotion as will put an end to the grievance complained of?
§ MR. HENRY FOWLEROn the 2nd May I answered a question of the hon. Member for Hull with respect to the alleged grievances of the Indian Staff Corps. In reply to the present question I can only say that I have considered the matter, and that, having consulted the Secretary of State for War and the Commander-in-Chief, I am unable, in view of the opinions which they have expressed, to make any change in the present rules for the promotion in the Staff Corps.