CAPTAIN FABER (Hampshire, Andover)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the method of promotion to warrant rank in the Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Field Artillery could be amended by making the seniority list for promotion date from day of promotion to sergeant instead of to staff-sergeant; and whether he is aware that, at present, amongst corporals in different brigades promoted to the rank of sergeant on the same day (January 1st, 1898), one became staff-sergeant on January 1st, 1903, and another on January 1st, 1906, their characters being equal.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Promotion to warrant rank is made from the rolls of staff-sergeants in order of seniority to battery staff-sergeant. Until January 1st, 1906, promotion to battery staff-sergeant was carried out in brigades, and necessarily the rate of promotion fluctuated. On the above date the system was changed, and promotion was made from one roll of sergeants in the United Kingdom, one in South Africa, and one in India. This will make the rate of promotion more uniform in future, and will practically make promotion to staff-sergeants date from promotion to sergeant. As regards the last part of the Question, the facts are as stated, and under the old system these occurrences were unavoidable.