§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state what is the position of a temporary officer who applied in 1916 for a Regular permanent commission, who has been serving in the Army of Occupation, and whose battalion is now returning to England to be demobilised; whether such an officer will be demobilised and called up again later in the event of his Regular commission being granted, or whether he would be retained in the Army until the question of his Regular commission had been settled; and how soon any decision may be expected regarding the cases of officers who applied for Regular commissions in 1916 who have as yet had no information regarding the possibility of their application being accepted, and who are, therefore, unable to make any plans regarding the future?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe fact that a temporary officer was recommended for a 1917W Regular permanent commission in 1916 or at any other time during the War will not affect his demobilisation under the Regulations at present in force. Should an officer be demobilised, it would not prejudice in any way his chances of selection for a permanent commission should opportunity arise, but in no circumstances can he be retained in the Army pending a decision. It is not yet possible to say when a decision will be reached, and in this connection I would draw attention to my replies to questions asked by the hon. and gallant Members for Abingdon and Dulwich on the 27th October and 11th November respectively.