§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that, under the Royal Warrant of 189O, the term of a staff appointment is limited to five years, he will explain why the Assistant Adjutant-General at the War Office who has 1375 recently completed this period has been retained in his appointment, and for what period has he been given an extension; and whether, seeing that this officer has served continuously on the staff at the War Office for a period of sixteen years, he will say what are the special circumstances for such exceptional preferment.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) At the time of the appointment, of the officer alluded to as Assistant Adjutant-General for Recruiting, the Royal Warrant laid down that the term of a staff appointment would be for five years, save under exceptional circumstances. This officer, who lost a leg in Egypt in 1885, held the appointment at the time when, in accordance with the recommendations of the Esher Committee, a change was made in the organisation of the recruiting department, and in the exceptional circumstances then obtaining, the Army Council approved the extension of his time for three years.