§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many non-commissioned officers on being transferred are reduced to the rank of private; and will he see that Instruction No. 1701, which was issued to meet these cases, is carried out?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware that the instructions on this subject are not being carried out. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases which he has in mind inquiries will be made.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the general dissatisfaction with the practice of appointing non-commissioned officers to acting rank higher than their permanent rank, and, in the event of the man being admitted to hospital in France, reverting to his permanent rank with little prospect of recovering his acting rank; and whether men who have acted in a higher rank satisfactorily for a few months can be promoted to that rank?
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§ Mr. FORSTERActing rank in the field is given to fill temporary vacancies, and is given up immediately the vacancy is permanently filled or the holder ceases to perform the duties of that acting rank. The answer to the second portion of the question is in the negative.