§ Major Wyattasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) what was the total strength of the Directorate of Combined operations at G.H.Q., India, on VJ-Day and what is its strength now;
(2)what is the total number of officers employed at G.H.Q., India; and how many of these are lieutenant-generals, major-generals, brigadiers and full colonels, respectively;
(3)what total reduction in the number of officers employed at G.H.Q., India, has been made since VJ-Day; and. in particular, by how many the number of brigadiers employed has been reduced.
§ Mr. A. Henderson,pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th November, 1945; Vol. 416, c. 2 and 3), supplied the following statement:
The strength of the Directorate of Combined operations at G.H.Q., India, on VT-Day was as follows:
1777W
Officers 40 Other ranks 27 The strength on i8th November was: Officers 15 Other ranks 12 The officer strength of G.H.Q., India, on 18th November was: Lieutenant-Generals 8 Major-Generals 30 Brigadiers 83 Colonels 102 Others 2,375 The authorities in India report that the first reductions to take place in the establishment of G.H.Q., India, after VJ-Day were in the sanctioned posts which had not been filled owing to the overall shortage of officers. Reductions of officers in filled posts since VJ-Day number 116, of which three were Brigadiers, it is anticipated that the following decrease will be made in the authorised establishment between VJ-Day and the end of the year:
Major-Generals 2 Brigadiers 15 Colonels 20 others 729 Total 766