§ 39. Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken when vacancies arise in the various overseas theatres of war to ensure that promotion from lieutenant to captain or captain to major is made from those officers who are already there serving rather than to bring out, as now is the case, officers from home forces of higher rank to fill such vacancies which precludes promotion by merit and experience in the field.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer my hon. Friend to a reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 29th February.
§ Mr. LiddallCan my right hon. Friend say whether there has been any improvement in the position?
§ Sir J. GriggI do not know what my hon. Friend means by "improvement." I have very little doubt that the largest measure of justice attainable in human affairs is striven for.
§ Mr. LiddallDoes not my right hon. Friend appreciate that there is cause for great dissatisfaction, when men are taking part in the battle month after month and year after year, and they find men sent out who have never tasted battle getting promotion?
§ Sir J. GriggThe only complaint I have ever heard is one in precisely the opposite sense, that it is impossible for people who are sent abroad to achieve their fair share of promotion. I do not believe that that is any more true than the contrary, but that is the only complaint I have heard.