§ 19. Mr. HOHLERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether his attention has been drawn to the block of promotion existing in the Army Pay Corps; whether he is aware that in July, 1915, there were about forty staff sergeant-majors who enlisted between the years 1881–98, 170 staff quartermaster sergeants, who enlisted between the years 1890–99, ninety staff sergeants who enlisted between the years 1895–1900, and 183 sergeants who enlisted between the years. 1891–1911 awaiting promotion, with little or no prospect for the majority of obtaining it owing to the limited number of assistant paymasters (fifty-seven) appointed from the corps; whether he is aware that since the commencement of the War the number of specially-enlisted clerks has been increased from 640 to 6,000, and about 800 civilian assistant paymasters appointed to temporary commissions, with the rank of assistant-paymaster and a salary of £250 a year; and, seeing that the Army Pay Corps have been responsible for instructing these clerks and civilian paymasters in their duties, whether he will largely increase the number of assistant-paymasters, and thus accelerate promotion in the corps?
§ Mr. FORSTERSince the hon. and learned Member last raised this question in May the establishment of fifty-eight assistant paymasters has been completed 1181 and considerable further numbers of promotions made in the ranks below. It cannot be said that there is a block in promotion. At the time the non-commissioned officers referred to joined the corps they had no prospects of commissioned rank at all, whereas thirty-one commissions have been given since the War began. The civilian officers number about 600; they are called acting paymasters and are not commissioned unless it is necessary to send them abroad. I can hold out no hope of a large increase in the number of commissions for the purpose of accelerating promotion.