HC Deb 19 June 1900 vol 84 cc436-7
MR. C. E. SHAW (Stafford)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that in the infantry and cavalry lieutenants are promoted to fill vacancies irrespective of their service, and seeing that such promotion is being attained at the present moment in about seven or eight years, the rule that lieutenants in the Royal Engineers and Artillery can in no case receive promotion until they have served eleven years in that rank may be considered.

MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)

There is no such rule as the hon. Member suggests. In the Royal Artillery the promotion to captain follows the same rules as in the cavalry or infantry. In the Royal Engineers sub alterns have the advantage that, while they can at any time be promoted to fill a vacancy, they cannot under any cir- cumstances wait longer than eleven years, as they must be promoted at the end of that period of service.

MR. C. E. SHAW

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the average rate of promotion is eleven years in the Royal Engineers?

MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

I am informed that the average is considerably less than seven years.

MR. C. E. SHAW

Eleven years.