31. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War with regard to 9 Gen. No. 4,650 T. F. 3, system of promotion that will be adopted in future in order to safeguard the relative precedence of officers generally, whether it is laid down that when an officer is posted or attached from one unit to another he will take his proper precedence in the unit, which he joins according to his position on the list of officers on the regular battalion, etc., an officer holding a permanent position taking precedence by the date of his permanent rank and an officer holding a temporary commission by the date of his present appointment to the Territorial Force, so that an officer posted to another unit will have to be granted higher temporary rank if it is necessary to place him in his proper relative position; and whether this rule is intended to be of general application or is only to be applied on the recommendation of the commanding officer?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe existing system, which is of general application, is substantially as described in the question, but the whole question is under consideration, and, as I stated on 31st October in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Leo-minster, it is hoped that new regulations will shortly come into operation.
Mr. SCOTTIs an officer who is sent home and attached to another unit entitled to his proper precedence of rank?
§ Mr. FORSTERPerhaps my hon. Friend would await the appearance of the new Regulations.