§ Order for Consideration of His Majesty's Most Gracious Message read.
§ Mr. SPEAKER read the Royal Message as followeth:
§ "The Emergency Powers Act, 1920, having enacted that if it appears to His Majesty that any action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any persons err body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be calculated, by interfering with the supply and distribution of food, water, fuel, light, or with the means of locomotion, to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of the essentials of life, His Majesty may, by Proclamation, declare that a state of emergency exists; and the immediate threat of cessation of work in coal mines having, in His Majesty's opinion, constituted a state of emergency within the meaning of the said Act:
§ His Majesty has deemed it proper, by Proclamation made in pursuance of the said Act and dated the 31st day of March, 1921, to declare that a state of emergency exists."
§
Resolved,
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty thanking His Majesty for His Most Gracious Message communicating to this House that His Majesty has deemed it proper by Proclamation made in pursuance of the Emergency Powers Act, 1920, dated the 31st day of March, 1921, to declare that a state of emergency exists."—[Mr. Chamberlain.]
§ Address to be presented by Privy Councillors or Members of His Majesty's Household.