§ 24. Mr. BUTCHERasked the conditions under which British officers who are prisoners of war receive promotion; whether it is proposed to alter these conditions; and, if so, how?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONArticle 47 of the Pay Warrant provides that a lieutenant may be promoted to captain notwithstanding that he is a prisoner, and that promotion of a captain to major may be made good after his release if practicable. Any promotion outside the terms of this article can only be considered after the officer's release when his fitness tor higher rank can be determined. I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that the Army Council are now exercising a close watch on the working of this article.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the hon. Gentleman say if there is any reasonable chance that a captain who is a prisoner will be treated in the same way as a lieutenant who is a prisoner and given promotion?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot say more than I have said, that the Army Council at the present time are exercising the very closest watch over this matter.