§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverford West)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Promotion Board is still existing under the same organisation as heretofore; whether the promotions of all officers are considered by this Board or only those of generals and field rank; whether it is now the practice of the War Office to communicate to officers the decisions at which the Board have arrived, and whether the decisions of the Board are ever re-considered; whether the fitness of each officer to command in the field is decided by this Board; and whether, after the Board have reported an officer as competent to command in the field, and when under the test of active service such officer is ascertained not to be so qualified, any re-consideration of his qualifications takes place, or whether his name is retained on the qualified list, and the opinion of the Board prevails over the test of actual experience in the field.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe Promotion Board exists under the same organisation as before. Its function is to report on colonels and lieutenant-colonels of three years standing as regards their fitness for promotion and employment. The decisions are communicated to the officers reported on when the Commander-in- 1308 Chief considers it desirable. It is open to the Board to reconsider its decisions. The fitness of each officer to command in the field is not decided by the Board, but by the Commander-in-Chief.
§ GENERAL LAURIEAm I to understand that in all cases the decisions of the Board are communicated to the officers or not?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThat is a matter in the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLCan you give the names of the members of the Board?
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI think there will be no objection if the hon. Member will put down a question.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLThey are very superior persons, I am sure.