HC Deb 21 May 1946 vol 423 cc165-6
6. Sir G. Jeffreys

asked the Secretary of State for War why regular officers who are not recommended for further promotion or who are extra-regimentally employed are kept on the establishment of regiments and corps; and whether he will cause such officers, and also any regular officers who have expressed a wish to resign their commissions, to be seconded or removed from the regimental establishment, in order to admit of the grant in their place of regular commissions to temporary officers who have shown in war their suitability for such commissions.

Mr. Lawson

In calculating the vacancies for Regular commissions, majors who have been superseded for promotion are not taken into account for the Regimental List, but it would be unfair if officers who have not been definitely passed over or who are extra-regimentally employed were removed from the establishment since there is no reason why such officers should lose their chance of command.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has been the ordinary practice in normal times for officers extra-regimentally employed to be seconded or placed on a supernumerary list? As we understand that there is peace again, is there any reason why there should not be a reversion to the normal practice? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that the block caused has been preventing a great number of temporary officers from getting commissions, because there are no vacancies for them on the establishment?

Mr. Lawson

I think the hon. and gallant Member has a particular regiment in mind. I know that there are no vacancies for Regular officers in that particular regiment. I wish that were the case in the others, but as a matter of fact it is not.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question as to whether it was not the normal practice in peacetime for extra-regimentally employed officers to be placed on a supernumerary list or be seconded?

Mr. Lawson

Yes, Sir, but on this occasion I have to use the extra officers for other purposes, because we are so short of officers.