§ Major Sir EDWARD COATESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the current Army List contains the names of a very large number of second-lieutenants who on 9th May last had completed at least eighteen months' commissioned service; whether, having regard to the recommendation contained in paragraph 11 of the Report of that date issued by the Committee on Promotion of Officers and to the acceptance by the Government of that recommendation, he will at once cause a notification to be published in the "London Gazette" promoting all such officers to the rank of lieutenant if duly recommended, such promotion to take effect eighteen months after the date of their commissions; and will he cause a communication to be sent individually to the officers in question giving the reasons why the recommendation of the Committee has not been applied to them?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNearly 20,000 officers have been promoted already. There are a certain number of outstanding cases, which are being dealt with as quickly as possible; but there is often delay in getting the individual recommendations. I think that, having regard to the general pressure of work in the Department, great credit is due to the Military Secretary's Department for achieving so much with such rapidity. I am afraid that the suggestion in the last part of the question is impracticable, as it would only tend to retard the promotions by withdrawing clerks from the work of promotion itself.
§ General M'CALMONTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the majority of reemployed officers of the general Reserve of Officers have failed to obtain any benefit. by the recent Orders under which they are permitted to reckon some of their previous service, owing to the fact that it has been ruled that they are only eligible for promotion when they become senior of their rank in their regimental lists; whether many who can now reckon fifteen years' service are still debarred from automatic promotion to major by this 1662W ruling; and whether such officers, if recommended, will be given an opportunity of being promoted into other regiments?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe whole question was most carefully considered by the Committee, and the recommendation made was the result. Assuming that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to regimental officers only, a very large number of officers in the Reserve of Officers have benefited by the new Rules, though, of course, in many cases the benefit has taken the form of continued seniority in. their present ranks. There are possibly a few officers who are debarred from promotion owing to their not being senior captains in their regiments, but these cases are rare, and in any case the same Rules must apply to them as to serving officers.