§ 42. Sir FRANCIS BLAKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a general seniority roster for officers, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) has now been formed; whether promotion is by seniority or selection; if by the latter, what is the composition of the selection board; and whether he can give the length of service. Volunteer and Territorial, of the six senior officers on the roster, with the lengths of service of each in his present rank?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONA general seniority list of officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) is now in existence, but its publication is dependent upon certain alterations in establishment which have not yet been finally approved. Promotion will be by selection from among senior officers who have been recommended by general officers commanding-in-chief, and approved by the 351 Army Council. As regards the last part of the question, there are, of course, separate lists for the several ranks, and a list as proposed would be of little value unless each rank was specified. In view of the fact that promotion will be by selection tempered with seniority, I am afraid that the information would be misleading in regard to the possibilities of promotion of the officers concerned.
§ Sir F. BLAKEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of these officers have from twenty to thirty years' service to their credit, and some of them have been for upwards of ten years in their present Tank?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am aware of that, and I am hopeful that the answer I have given will remedy these hard cases.