MILITARY MANŒUVRES ACT, 1897. (ORDER IN COUNCIL). (Hansard, 20 April 1910)

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)
moved, "That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to make an Order in Council under the Military Manœuvres Act, 1897, a draft of which was presented to this House on the 21st day of February last."

§ Mr. CARLILE
I do not want to delay the right hon. Gentleman in getting the Order in Council, but there are one or two questions which I should like to ask him with reference to the provision made by them for the compensation of owners for property within the area concerned on the one hand, and on the other with reference to the safety of persons during the course of the manœuvres. We are all strongly in favour of the manœuvres and we know it is most essential that they should be carried out. I would remind the House that during the course of the manœuvres last year a very serious accident happened in consequence of a newspaper motor-car running into a column of troops. That really illustrates the sort of accident which might happen unless efficient steps are taken to secure the safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. We all know that in these days a large amount of work is done 2260 by motor-car. We know that as soon as messengers with motors receive messages to take to the General Officer they are not; very careful as to the speed at which they travel. The consequence is that the public, who naturally have the first claim to the use of the roads, are exposed to dangers which otherwise would not arise. Therefore I asked the right hon. Gentleman to assure the House that efficient steps will be taken in this regard, and also that owners of property will have due consideration with regard to the damages that may be done to their roads, crops, hedges, and so forth.

§ Mr. HALDANE
The protection to which the hon. Member refers is conferred by Sections (5) and (6) of the Military Manœuvres Act, 1897. The House realises the procedure under which this Address arises. The Act provides that their should be a draft Order in Council; then that it should go for six months to the localities, to the county, borough, and parish councils; then it has to lie for thirty days on the Table of both Houses; then an Address must be presented by both Houses asking His Majesty to make an Order in Council. That, however, is not all. When the Order in Council is made, a Commission is appointed, containing a large number of local representatives, which can and does make orders deter- 2261 mining, among other things, what roads are to be used, due consideration being given to the public safety. If there is damage done by the operations, a compensation officer, appointed by the Commission, not dependent upon the War Office, assesses compensation. Thus there is complete provision for the public safety, and the greatest pains are taken by the military authorities to do nothing that would cause any inconvenience or damage.

§ Lord BALCARRES
I notice that Fife is the only area in Scotland included. That is the most highly-cultivated county in Scotland, whereas the large area of Government land in Peeblesshire or Selkirk is not included. In the first Schedule the whole of the Government property on Salisbury Plain is included, so that the exclusion of the land to which I have referred is not due to the fact that Government ownership lenders its inclusion unnecessary. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman can explain that point.

§ Mr. HALDANE
These manœuvres are taking place this year on a very exceptional scale. The House has sanctioned an expenditure of £100,000, in addition to the ordinary cost of manœuvres. The special manœuvres included in the scheme are designed to test the new scheme of coast defence worked out by the General Staff. One of the places which might be liable to invasion, and which certainly requires most attention, is the Firth of Forth. Accordingly, the coast there is being made the special locality for the manœuvres this year. That is the reason why the county of Fife is scheduled.