§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Mr. BellengerDo I understand that what happens in the Army Educational Corps at the moment is that, when a man has passed his instruction, he is automatically promoted to sergeant, and that this Clause will enable him to be reduced to the ranks but to no lower non-commissioned rank if he is found guilty of some misdemeanour? It is not quite clear to me whether there is in the Army Educational Corps any lower rank than sergeant to which he could be reduced like any other non-commissioned officer if he is found guilty of an offence.
§ Mr. M. StewartIn the Army Educational Corps there are lower ranks than sergeant, though they are only the men who are undergoing training, or have been transferred to it from other corps. If a sergeant or above were reduced to the ranks as a result of this Clause, it is possible to have the man below the rank of sergeant in the Army Educational Corps, but what would be done in practice is that, if he had been transferred from another corps, he might be transferred back, or to some other corps, or in certain cases he might be discharged from the Army. If that is the point which concerns my right hon. Friend, there would not be, as it were, a new sort of category of reduced sergeants appearing in the Army Educational Corps.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.