§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the authority for altering the conditions of service in the Indian Forces, which have been laid down by the authority of a Royal Warrant, 1861, by an Indian Army Order (No. 511 on 18th July, 1904); whether it is intended that the relative course of promotion in the senior ranks of the Indian Cavalry and of the Indian Infantry, which have from time immemorial been identical, namely, by length of service, shall henceforward be brought into line with the conditions which exist in the British Service, and which has existed in that Service since purchase was abolished; whether he is prepared to say that the fact of Cavalry colonels being superseded by upwards of fifty Infantry colonels will not practically deprive the former officers of all hope of attaining to the rank of major-general; and whether steps will be taken, in consultation with the Government of India as to regulations, which may in the future govern promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to repair the injustice which has 2508W already been inflicted on Cavalry colonels?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Royal Warrant of 13th August, 1877, directed that promotion through successive ranks up to that of
colonel should be made "in our Indian Staff Corps, under such regulations as shall be made from time to time by our Secretary of State for India in Council," and this power of regulating promotion in the Indian Army has been continued to the Secretary of State for India in Council by subsequent Royal Warrants down to the present time. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member's question of 11th July, the Government of India will be consulted as to whether any change in the regulations regarding promotion to lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army is expedient.