§ Mr. ASTORasked what is the normal period for which non-commissioned officers are posted as instructors to the Territorial Force, Royal Garrison Artillery; and do they, at the expiration of this period, on reverting to the Regular Force, retain the ranks which they held as instructors to the Territorial Force?
§ Mr. HALDANESince 1st September, 1910, non-commissioned officers of the Regular Forces posted as sergeant instructors to the Territorial Force have been posted for a tour of service of two years, with power of extension to five years. Non-commissioned officers are posted to the Permanent Staff of the Territorial Force in their Army rank, that is, in the rank held by them in the regular unit from which they were posted. On the expiration of a tour of service on the Permanent Staff of the Territorial Force, non-commissioned officers will revert to their line units in the same Army rank as was held by them on the Permanent Staff. Non-commissioned officers appointed to the Permanent Staff of the Territorial Force before 1st September, 1910, were permanently posted thereto, and are not required to revert to the Regular Forces unless their services are specially required, or unless they are found to be unfitted for their position on the Permanent Staff. In the latter case, if the circumstances require it, the Army Council may order their reversion in a lower rank than that held by them on the Permanent Staff.