§ Colonel RAWSONasked whether lieu-tenants in the Indian Army are automatically promoted to the rank of captain after nine years' service; and, if so, whether he will reconsider his decision not to apply this system of promotion by tone to the Royal Garrison Artillery, and thereby provide a permanent remedy for the stagnation in promotion in that branch of the service and the consequent falling off in supply of the junior officers?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative. There is at present no stagnation in promotion to captain, thirty promotions having taken place 1015 in the last four months, and there is every reason to hope that this flow will be maintained. There is, I am glad to note, no falling off in the supply of junior officers.
§ Colonel RAWSONasked the number of subaltern officers in the British service who are waiting for appointment to the Indian Army, and whether he has any official information showing that the popularity of the Indian Army is due to the better prospects offered by the system of fixed promotion by time?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe first part of the question should be addressed to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for India. In reply to the second part of the question there is no official information to this effect.