§ Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is, now in a position to report progress on in absentia promotion of established and establish-able civilian personnel of War Office outstations now serving in His Majesty's Forces, Civil Defence services, etc.; and whether any further in absentia promotions of War Office headquarter civilian personnel have been made since his previous answer?
§ Sir J. GriggThe common seniority rolls of outstation clerical staff have now been completed and arrangements will I hope be made shortly for a Promotion Board to consider their claims to promotionin absentia. But the hon. Member will appreciate that there is at present very heavy pressure on the Promotion Board machinery in connection with the special steps which are now being taken to consider the claims of outstation staff to promotion following the Cozens-Hardy Committee Report. As regards establishable staff, no action can be taken until they are established. At War Office headquarters four more in absentia promotions have been made since my previous reply on this subject.