§ 18. Colonel Sir HAMAR GREENWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why second-lieutenants with more than eighteen months' commissioned service and recommended by their commanding officers have not yet received promotion in accordance with Army Council Instructions; whether it is the intention of the Army Council to penalise officers in the matter of promotion in cases where they have transferred from one unit to another; and, if not, will promotion in such cases be dated back to the time when the period of eighteen months' commissioned service was completed?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my lion. and gallant Friend to the answers given on 26th November and 17th January to my hon. and gallant Friends the Members for Lewisham and St. Pancras West, when I stated that up to the end of November 20,000 promotions were announced. A considerable addition has now been made to that number. The out standing cases are dealt with as soon as the recommendations are received. Officers are riot penalised when transferred to another unit solely in the interests of the Service, but are treated precisely as they would have been had they not been so transferred.
§ 19. Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many officers of the Regular Army during the year 1917 were appointed to command Territorial battalions, and how many Territorial officers during the same period were appointed to command battalions of the Regular Army?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONDuring the year 1917, 121 Regular officers have been appointed to command Territorial Force battalions, and two Territorial Force officers have been appointed to command Regular battalions. During the same period:30 Territorial Force officers have been appointed to command New Army battalions.