§ SIR CARNE RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Promotion Board in 1899 recommended officers of the rank of colonel for promotion, from one selected list; and whether officers on this list, who held commands at home during the South African War but who lost promotion owing to Mr. Stanhope's proposal 14 not being carried out, will have their claims considered.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The procedure of the Promotion Board has always been to scrutinise the list of full colonels and to recommend selected names for advancement to the rank of major-general, but the list of selected names was always subject to revision from time to time by the Board. The functions of the old Promotion Board are now to be merged into those of the new Selection Board. It must be pointed out that officers who are now on the retired list can no longer be considered.