§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state whether any decision has been arrived at as to the participation of warrant officers of the Navy in the promotions and honours recently awarded and officially announced in connection with the South African campaign; and whether the statutes of the orders governing the Distinguished Service Order have been so revised as to enable naval warrant officers to be eligible for this distinction, and so place them upon a similar footing to non-commissioned officers and men in the Army.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.The question of a decoration for officers of warrant rank in the Royal Navy has now been settled, and steps will be taken at the earliest possible opportunity to give effect to the decision. The arrangements made do not affect the statutes of the Distinguished Service Order.