§ SIR W. J. COLLINS (St. Pancras, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, on the transfer of the East India Company to the Crown, the military officers in the Company's service were, by Sections 56 and 58 of 21 and 22 Vic, c. 106, guaranteed promotion as if they had continued in the service of the company; whether promotion under the company was not by seniority; whether promotion in accordance with the practice obtaining under the company was continued from 1858 to 1893; whether such promotion has now ceased, and why; and whether the case of those officers on the unemployed supernumerary list who have not received promotion such as they would have received under the company will be reconsidered during the current year
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The Answer to the first Question is in the affirmative; to the second, that promotion in the East India Company's army was by seniority, but subject to regulation by the Sovereign in respect to promotion above the rank of colonel. With regard to the further Questions I must refer my hon. friend to my Answer to his Question of November 26th, 1906.†
† See (4) Debates, clxv., 1215.1418 I regret that I do not see my way to reopen the question of the promotion of officers on the unemployed supernumerary list.