§ MR. CLAVELL SALTER (Hants, Basingstoke)To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether there is any, and 1200 what, shortage of subalterns in the various batteries of the Royal Field Artillery; and what steps, if any, will be taken to fill these vacancies.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The present shortage amounts to fifty-seven, of which number of places twenty will be filled by the 1st February. The transfer of Garrison Artillery Volunteers to Field Artillery Territorial Force units caused a demand for forty-two adjutants from the Royal Field Artillery, and a corresponding deficiency among the subalterns. Steps are being taken to good the deficiency.