HC Deb 29 February 1916 vol 80 cc867-8
13. Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNER

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will say under what circumstances captains of Artillery who have been in charge of six-gun batteries for many months, and who have been doing the duty of majors in presiding at courts-martial, are retained in their existing rank and pay, whereas officers of the same period at Woolwich who have retired and rejoined are promoted to the ranks of major and colonel in priority; and why battery commanders, who are captains, are not allowed to occupy the post of staff captains, an increase of pay of £200 per annum over their present pay?

Mr. TENNANT

The command of a six-gun battery is normally held by a major and that of a four-gun battery by a major or captain. A large increase of Regular majors was made in order to provide sufficient majors for six-gun batteries and for a reasonable proportion of four-gun batteries, but it is not always possible to have a major in every six-gun battery without disturbing the personnel of other batteries in a way which would not conduce to the efficiency of the Artillery as a whole. The temporary rank of major has only been given where this rank has been considered necessary for efficiency and disciplinary purposes. Certain officers have been given the rank of lieutenant-colonel to command divisional ammunition columns where special qualifications of organisation are more necessary than gunnery experience and because Regular Artillery lieutenant-colonels cannot be spared for this duty. As regards the last part of the question, I fear that possible financial benefit to individuals must be regarded as secondary to the general efficiency of the batteries.

Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNER

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman of his statement, in November last, that it would be true to say that captains ought to be promoted to be majors within a reasonable time, and that five months have elapsed since he gave that answer and not one of these captains has been promoted to be major?

Mr. TENNANT

I will have that looked into. I was not aware of the fact.