§ Lieut-Colonel WINDSOR-CLIVEasked the Secretary of State for War what are the average ages at which commissions in the combatant branches of the Regular Army are obtained by cadets who have entered the military colleges by competitive examination, non-commissioned officers who have been selected to attend a military college with a view to obtaining a commission, and university candidates?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe average ages are as follow, taking for this purpose the mean between the maximum and the minimum age at which a commission can be obtained in each case:
Years. Cadets entering the military colleges by competitive examination 20 Non-commissioned officer cadets 23 University candidates 22½ The commissions of University candidates may be antedated by periods vary- 682W ing between a few months and four years in an extreme case, according to their academic and military qualifications and their ages.