Former MP for Petersfield
Is it not a fact that this system is entirely contrary to the whole principle of the Territorial Army, that it should be based on local recruiting and readily available for call-up; and is it not certain that many of these men would, if they had been called to local units, have re-enlisted with the Territorials and will now be lost to the Territorial Army?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information to give the House regarding the maintenance and general condition of British military cemeteries on the Continent of Europe and in Africa; what is the number of these cemeteries; and what proportion of the staffs in charge of them is British.
Will the right hon. Gentleman amplify that information? Is there, in every case, at least one Briton in charge of every cemetery?
asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the rates of retired pay of naval, military and air force officers, who retired under the provisions of the Royal Warrant and corresponding instruments of 1919, in no case exceed, and in many cases are less than, the rates of 1919, in spite of the great rise since then in the cost of living; and whether, in view of the fact that the...
Does the right hon. Gentleman know of any other class or body of persons, wage earners or salary earners, who are now getting less than the rates of 1919—
—and will he urge upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is the person really responsible, that it is quite time the claims of these officers should be attended to and the terms of the Royal Warrant put into force?
asked the Secretary of State for War what is the position of officers of the substantive rank of major after they have as temporary lieutenant-colonels completed their periods of command of units; and whether such officers then have to relinquish their temporary rank and continue to serve as regimental officers in the rank of major.
Is it not time that a permanent system replaced the present system, or lack of system, of temporary rank? Is it not always extremely unpopular with any officer to have to revert to a lower rank, and is this really necessary? Is it not time a permanent system was evolved which would do away with these temporary ups and downs which may be necessary in war-time but cannot be necessary in peace-time?
