§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is able to communicate to the House the steps which he has taken, or proposes to take, in reference to the reconstruction of the military and civil departments of the War Office, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee presided over by the Financial Secretary to the War Office; and whether he will accelerate the superannuation of officials who have already reached the age of sixty years and completed forty years service.
§ * MR. BRODRICKI am giving this subject close consideration, but am not in a position to make a statement. There 825 are seven members of the higher division civil department of the War Office over sixty years of age. Three of them retire within a few months.