§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would say what are the duties and qualifications required for the appointment of Deputy Adjutant-General Royal Marines, and were there no officers of the Royal Marine Artillery or Royal Marine Light Infantry serving at the date of Colonel Onslow's expiration of command, and still serving, competent or desirous of performing those duties without making a special reserve list for colonels; was a similar special reserve list tried and found detrimental to the promotion of Royal Marine officers, and repealed; and have the opinions of the officers of the Royal Marine Artillery or Royal Marine Light Infantry been asked as to the desirability or necessity of forming a special reserve list?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Deputy Adjutant-General is charged under the direction of the Board with the general control and administration of the Corps of Royal Marines. Order in Council of 13th November, 1858, lays down that the Deputy Adjutant-General is not to be of rank inferior to that of colonel. There were officers competent and presumably desirous, but the creation of a special reserve list gives a wider field of selection. The special reserve that formerly existed differed materially from the present reserve. The question is not one which it is considered should be referred for the general opinions of officers of the two branches of the corps.