§ 54. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many hon. Members of this House and Noble Lords of another place, who at the outbreak of war were not serving in His Majesty's Regular, Colonial, or Territorial Forces, or in the Special or Territorial Reserve, have, since the outbreak of war, been granted the rank of major and upwards in the first instance?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am having these figures prepared, and will communicate with my Noble and gallant Friend as soon as I am in a position to answer his question.
§ 55. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under- Secretary of State for War if in future the practice of conferring the rank of major and upwards upon gentlemen, in the first instance, and without the ordinary steps, in promotion, from second-lieutenant will cease, except in very special cases, in view of the fact that as a general rule ordinary combatant officers attain to that rank only after several years' service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSuch rank is only given in special cases where it is considered necessary for the performance of the particular duty for which the officer is selected.
§ General McCALMONTWould the right hon. Gentleman indicate what is meant by the particular duty, and could not this position be confined to those officers who require seniority in order to carry on their duties?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo. I cannot specify any individual cases, but my hon. and gallant Friend knows that there are cases in which civilians have got to be appointed, who do semi-military work, and it is important that it should be done by officers chiefly of that rank.