§ SIR ROBERT HOBART (Hampshire, New Forest)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Army officers of the rank of major who are not now seconded when holding staff appointments under the present system of allowing extra captains instead; and, further, if he will consider whether majors who are passed over for the appointment of second in command, by reason of their holding staff appointments, should not at once be placed on the list of officers extra-regimentally employed instead of being retained, as at present, on the lists of regiments.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The question of seconding majors while holding staff appointments has been frequently considered, but the financial expenditure involved is held to be prohibitive. There are similar financial objections to the proposal made in the second part of the Question. If these proposals received effect it is estimated that a new charge of some £30,000 a year would be placed upon the taxes.