§ 8. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India whether in order to relieve the block in promotion, he has in view the introduction of a scheme of compulsory retirement of officers of the Indian Army?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs hon. Members are no doubt aware, the authorities in India are likely to be confronted with a serious congestion in the senior ranks of regimental officers in the Indian Army within the next few years, and are now considering how best to deal with the problem. The congestion is due to the large number of permanent commissions granted during the War years, taken in conjunction with the operation of the time-scale of promotion. No definite scheme has yet been placed before me, and I cannot say at the present stage what form such a scheme is likely to take.