§ 106. Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked, in view of the fact that on page 108 of the Army (Annual) Report, dated 1st October, 1911, the number of men serving in the Special Reserve Infantry of less than twenty years of age is given at 16,684, why similar information is not available for 1st October, 1912?
§ Colonel SEELYThe returns for the Special Reserve, from which the part of the General Annual Report mentioned is compiled, had not reached the War Office on the 14th October, the date on which the hon. Gentleman put a question asking for this information. These returns are now complete and the figures required are as follows: 16,776 men under twenty years of age joined the Special Reserve Infantry during the year ending 30th September, 1912, and on the 1st October 15,600 men were so serving, as compared with 16,688 and 15,049, respectively, for the previous year. Figures for the 27th extra battalions are not shown separately in the returns.
§ 108. Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked, in view of the fact that the twenty-seven extra Special Reserve battalions are twenty majors deficient, how many of the 133 captains who are now serving in the twenty-seven fourth battalions are qualified by examination for field rank; and if it is the intention to promote captains so qualified?
§ Colonel SEELYThe information required is not available at the War Office, and can only be obtained by calling for detailed reports from the various commands. It will be forwarded in due course to the hon. Gentleman. As regards the last part of the question, recommendations for promotion are made by the general officers commanding concerned.