§ 32. Mr. Scollanasked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the instruction that candidates who apply for commissions under Group II of the Army Council Instruction must be recommended by their commanding officer, brigadier, major-general and army commander, in view of the fact that suitable men volunteering are vetoed by the commanding officer alone, as in the case of Major Morrison of the R.A.
§ Mr. BellengerThe seniority envisaged for officers accepted in Group II can only be justified if the officers are outstanding. The system of recommendation of Group II candidates by commanding officers and higher commanders is a reasonable one and I do not think that any officer of the required standard will fail to be recommended. In the case of Major Morrison it was not his commanding officer who rejected his application.
§ Mr. ScollanIs the Minister aware that this man was outstanding, and was recommended by the other three, but the 963 Fuehrer of the Army said "No," and that was the end of it, and evidently the Minister accepts it too?
§ Mr. BellengerI do not know how far the term "the Fuehrer of the Army" could be interpreted, but I should have thought that if it could be, I should have been considered to be the Fuehrer of the Army.