HL Deb 25 June 1900 vol 84 cc883-4

House in Committee (according to Order).

Clause 1:—

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

I understand that the original Act, the Military Manœuvres Act of 1897, may be modified under this Bill so that areas may be used for consecutive years without the limitation of five years. I should like to know if that is so.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE)

My Lords, this change in the main Act was made on the recommendation of the Manœuvres Commission, which was appointed under the Act of 1897. The point which they had to deal with was this: Under the main Act the same land may not be scheduled more than once in five years, but, having once been scheduled, it cannot be scheduled again, whether' it is used or not. What this Bill does is to enable us, when land has been scheduled and not used, to schedule it again within the same period of five years, but only once.

Clauses 1, 2, and 3 agreed to.

Clause 4:—

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

I observe that it is mentioned in the first section of Clause 4 that the Secretary of State may use the areas which are "delineated and coloured red on the maps-signed for the purposes of this Act by the Speaker of the House of Commons and deposited at the War Office." What I want to ask is, will these maps be sent down to the local authorities concerned previous to being sanctioned by Parliament? As regards the district in which I live—namely, the New Forest—there is considerable anxiety on this subject, and the local authorities would, no doubt, be glad to know what the area selected was, in order that they might, if they thought desirable, raise objection to it before it was actually sanctioned by Parliament.

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

I think the suggestion of my noble friend is a very reasonable one. In the case of the area in which he is particularly interested I have already given instructions that an officer is to be deputed to visit the locality, and, if necessary, confer with the occupiers or owners of the land in the neighbourhood. I have no doubt that my noble friend has noticed that there is another sub-section in the same clause, under which it is laid down that before any of these lands can be used in the manner proposed notice has to be given by advertisement in the newspapers. I can assure my noble friend that every possible exertion will be made to avoid any inconvenience to those who reside in the neighbourhood of the land over which these military manœuvres are to take place.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

Will the local authorities be given an opportunity of expressing an opinion before the areas are sanctioned by Parliament, or afterwards?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

I do not think it will be possible to alter the areas after the Bill has been passed through Parliament, but while the Bill is passing through Parliament there will be every opportunity given to those who desire to criticise the areas which have been included.

Clauses 4 and 5 agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment; and recommitted to the Standing Committee.