§ 53. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now give the number of commissioned officers who have been promoted from the ranks during the past 10 years?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaOn 8th February the hon. Member asked me to state the approximate number of officers of the British Army who have risen from the ranks. The number is 2,090, which is about 17 per cent. of the total strength of officers in the British Army. The hon. Member now asks for the number promoted from the ranks during the last 10 years. It is 981.
§ Mr. SorensenDo not these figures indicate that the possibility of a ranker rising to be an officer is really quite remote, and, in these circumstances, cannot the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to propose a fairer means of promoting rankers to the officer class?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe contrary is the case, for nearly 17 per cent. of the officers in the British Army have risen from the ranks.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes not that mean that 83 per cent. have not risen from the ranks?