§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that the commanding officers of each of the new battalions in the Royal Irish Regiment will be drawn from officers currently serving in the existing battalions of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment; and if he will ensure that promotion from the rank of lieutenant colonel will be the same in the Royal Irish Regiment as from any other regiment in the Army.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonFollowing the merger of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment members of the general service and home service battalions will have the opportunity to acquire the qualifications necessary for appointment to command battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and other units of the Regular and Territorial Armies. Promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant colonel will be on the same basis as in the rest of the Army.