§ 80. Mrs. Braddockasked the Secretary of State for War why Lieutenant, Acting Captain, N. R. Carmichael, Royal Signals, Territorial Army, was reduced to the rank of lieutenant when he arrived at camp for his two weeks' service, and a few hours before his birthday which would have entitled him to the substantive rank of captain.
§ Mr. SoamesUntil 19th May, 1958, this officer was a lieutenant holding the acting rank of captain. It is provided by Regulations for the Territorial Army that acting rank may be withdrawn on the grounds of inefficiency or misconduct.
This regulation was applied to Lieutenant Carmichael following his conviction by court-martial for an offence under Section 69 of the Army Act, 1955. He has appealed against his conviction. 90W His acting rank was withdrawn because of matters which were disclosed at the trial and which were not disputed by the accused. If his appeal is successful, I shall review the withdrawal of acting rank; but in the meantime Lieutenant Carmichael could not be allowed to continue as a captain, which rank would automatically have become substantive if held after the officer's 27th birthday.