§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that, in the view of the Government, there is nothing in Major Sir F. Carrington's recent service in South Africa to call for special report, it 544 is now intended to restore that officer to his command of the Belfast district, which will be vacated in the ordinary course by Major-General Leach in September next, or if it is intended to again employ him; and, if not, can he say why this officer will not be again employed; and whether the appointment of this officer to command troops in Rhodesia was made in direct opposition to the advice of members of the Army Board at the War Office.
§ MR. BRODRICKI must decline in this and all other cases to give reasons for the employment or non-employment of a particular officer. All recommendations for command are made to the Secretary of State, both in war and peace, by the Commander-in-Chief, and Sir Frederick Carrington is no exception to the rule.
§ MR. BRODRICKI shall entirely decline to give an answer to that or any other question addressed to me of similar import. The proceedings of the Army Board are private. The recommendations of the Commander-in-Chief are made to the Secretary of State, and on these recommendations officers are either appointed or not appointed to commands.
§ *MR. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member wants to put any further questions he must give notice.