§ 47. Sir M. SUETERasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether any combined major manoeuvres with the Navy, Army, and Air Force have taken place since the Armistice; if so, on how many occasions; and who is responsible for advising the Government that combined manoeuvres with the three fighting services should be periodically undertaken?
§ Sir T. INSKIPA large number of combined exercises have been held since the Armistice in which the Navy, Army and Air Force have taken part. Combined operations exercises of a major nature have with few exceptions been held annually at Singapore, Hong Kong and Malta, and from time to time at other stations overseas on a smaller scale. At home, exercises were held in 1935, 1934, 1932, 1931, 1930, 1928, and on other previous occasions. As regards the latter part of the question, the holding of combined exercises is a matter for the staffs of the three Services concerned, and, as will be seen from the answer to the first part of the question, the necessity has not arisen for the Government to lay down that such exercises should be periodically undertaken.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it proposed to hold any joint manoeuvres with those foreign countries such as France and Belgium with whom we have staff technical arrangements, or has that been considered?