§ Major NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of years' service that is necessary before an officer can reach the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army, and also the number of years after which he is precluded from obtaining the rank of general; and whether an officer cannot draw the pay of a major until he has had eighteen years' service, though he can be promoted major two years previously?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe rank of lieutenant-colonel may be attained by an officer if he is qualified and recommended after twenty-six years' service, and is attained earlier by selection for certain appointments. The only age-limit affecting promotion to general officer is the age at which retirement becomes obligatory, namely, fifty-seven for colonel, sixty-two for major-generals, sixty-seven for lieutenant-generals and generals. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the last issue of the "Gazette" only carried the promotions to 25th July and that there are still a large number of officers in the Indian Army whose advancement is nearly four months overdue; and can he state why promotions that were due early in August have not yet been gazetted?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member presumably refers to notifications of His Majesty's approval, which appear in the "London Gazette," but the promo- 519W tions of all Indian Army officers are first notified in the "Gazette" of India. The notifications in that "Gazette," which are accepted as authority for the adjustment of an officer's pay and for his assumption of higher rank, usually appear well within a month from the date on which the promotion fell due.