§ MAJOR DALBIAC (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether, under the proposed new Warrant for the reorganisation of the Ordnance Store Department, those officers who have completed, or are just completing ten years' service, will be allowed to continue in the Department; and, if so, whether under the terms of the Warrant of 1880, if the prospects of promotion under the 1551 new scheme are bad, any brevets will be given; and, when is the Warrant likely to be promulgated; if not for some time, can any announcement be made which will tend to relieve the uncertainty under which the unfortunate officers of this Department have been living for some months?
§ MR. BRODRICKThose officers who have completed ten years' service in the Ordnance Store Department, and those also who may complete ten years before the new Warrant shall be promulgated, and may be selected for permanent retention, will remain under the terms of the Royal Warrant of 1880. It is not anticipated that promotion will be affected. The details of the Warrant are still under consideration, and I cannot yet say when it will be issued. It has already been stated that the necessary changes will be carried out with every consideration for the claims of existing officers.