§ MR. MENDL (Plymouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, will he explain why substantive lieutenant-colonels of Marines are put on the same roster as captains in the Army, although no other substantive lieutenant-colonels are put on such rosters; and if he will see that, in future, the officers of Marines shall only be put on rosters oil which officers of similar rank in the Army are liable to serve?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYWhen the number of field officers in a garrison is small, it frequently happens that captains in the Army and Royal Marines are put upon the duty roster of field officers. It is probable that, in the case of the garrison which the honourable Member has in view (Plymouth), the substantive lieutenant-colo- 30 nels are in command of regiments, and so, in the opinion of the general officer commanding, are not available for garrison duty. I see no reason for making any change in the present practice.