Colonel NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War if officers of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps can be promoted to the rank of major at thirteen years' service as is the case of officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and why any distinction in this respect is made; when will captains of ten years' service in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps be promoted to major; and is he aware of the hardship operating under Order 324 of September last by the non-promotion of these officers as compared with those who on July, 1915, were promoted to major with ten years' service?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOfficers of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps are eligible for promotion to captain after five years' service, and to major after ten years in the rank of captain. As a war measure it was necessary temporarily to augment the establishment in July, 1915, and a certain number of officers were promoted to the rank of major on completion of ten years' service. These officers benefited in a manner similar to many officers of other corps whose promotion was accelerated owing to the War. The reversion to Peace Regulations cannot be considered as a hardship.