asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what proportion of pupils are admitted to the staff college as the result of a competitive examination and what proportion are nominated for general merit; and if he will give the figures for last year?

No officer is eligible for nomination to the staff college unless he has qualified at the staff college entrance examination. The proportion between the number who gain competitive vacancies and the number who are nominated varies with the results of the particular examination. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of an Army Order which explains the system. The numbers admitted after the examination held in 1932 were 36 officers by competition and 24 by nomination.