§ 104. Mr. COOTEasked the Under-secretary of State for War if he is aware that officers detailed for service overseas out of Special Reserve battalions of both Irish and English regiments whose battalion headquarters are permanently at home are liable to be sent to any battalion serving at the front, and that in consequence of their being detached from their own battalion they are of no interest in point of promotion to a commanding officer of the battalion to which they are sent; is he aware that although vacancies frequently occur in their battalions, and not withstanding recommendations for promotion by their commanding officers, they are being superseded by officers of the battalions to which they become attached, who are, as a rule, their juniors in point of service; and will he endeavour to place the promotion of these officers on the same basis as at present exists in Service battalions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONOfficers of Special Reserve battalions are eligible for substantive promotion in their own battalions, irrespective of where they are serving. They are also eligible for, and frequently receive, acting promotion in battalions at the front. I am afraid that the suggestion in the last part of the question would not be practicable.