§ Brigadier-General WIGANasked the Secretary of State for War, if he will state the present number of Regular officers surplus to establishment and the numbers of Territorial Force Special Reserve and new Army officers who have applied for and been recommended for commissions in the Regular Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe total establishment of Regular Army officers for the next financial year cannot yet be definitely fixed, but as far as can be foreseen the number of Regular regimental officers available is in certain branches below the number likely to be required. This deficit exists almost exclusively in the technical arms and services, while there is a surplus in the Artillery and Infantry. The number of non-Regular officers who have applied for permanent commissions is 3,681, but most of these are not qualified for appointment to the corps in which the vacancies exist. The question of how many such commissions can now be given in the combatant arms is, however, at present receiving consideration.