21. Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, as there is so little prospect of promotion for lieutenants serving in protection companies of the Royal Defence Corps and as 225 nearly the whole of these officers are gentlemen well advanced in years, he will, without any cost to the public, grant them the honorary rank of captain after three years' good and Continuous service as in the case of quartermasters and similar appointments or, as an alternative, grant them the substantive rank of captain, their pay, allowances, and duties remaining as at present?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid it is not practicable to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's question, as to do so would be unfair to officers in other arms of the Service who are serving in the trenches and elsewhere.