§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he will state who are the members of the Army Promotion Board; by whom are they appointed to seats on this Board; what is the tenure of their office, and do they hold office at the pleasure of the Secretary of State for War, or of the Commander-in-Chief, or either of them; what are the duties of this Board; and when recommendations are made of gentlemen from other regiments to assume the commands held by men who have fallen in active service or become incapacitated from wounds, is a memorandum of the reasons for passing over the officers of the regiments in which such vacancies have occurred prepared in the War Office.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Promotion Board consists of the generals commanding in Ireland, at Aldershot, and either at Portsmouth or Devonport. These officers sit during the term of their appointment to their districts. Other officers, appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, are added to their number to deal with the particular arms of the service. A record is kept of the Board's recommendations.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLThe hon. Gentleman has not told me the names of the members of this Board of Patronage.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI do not think any useful purpose would be served by giving the names of the officers.