§ Brigadier Lowasked the Secretary of State for War how many non-Regular officers have been granted Regular commissions since VE-Day and in what ranks; and how many applications for Regular 2042W commissions he has received but not yet approved nor finally turned down and in what ranks.
§ Mr. Lawson297 Regular commissions have been granted since VE-Day. All officers are gazetted as 2nd Lieutenants or Lieutenants according to their qualifying service and are thereafter subject to the usual promotion rules. 35 have already qualified for the substantive rank of captain. The retention of any higher temporary or war-substantive rank already held is not affected by the grant of a permanent commission. The number of applications received and not yet finally disposed of is 1, 658. Details of the ranks of these officers are not readily available.
§ Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War if an officer in the Regular Army is now free to resign his commission if he so desires.
§ Mr. LawsonI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 31st October to the hon. and gallant Member for Stone (Major Fraser) and on 30th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Hythe (Colonel Mackeson).