§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL) rose to move, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to make two Orders in Council under the Military Manœuvres Acts, 1897 and 1911, drafts of which were presented to this House on the 9th day of February last. The noble Lord said: My Lords, before moving the Resolution which stands in my name I think I ought to inform your Lordships that military manœuvres are authorised by Order in Council under Section 1 of the Military Manœuvres Act, 1897. The Act provides that the draft Order shall not be submitted to His Majesty in Council until it has lain before each House of Parliament for thirty sitting days and unless each House presents an Address to His Majesty for the Order to be made. The two draft Orders—one for each manœuvre area—having lain for the requisite number of sitting days, it is now necessary to move the Resolution which has been placed on the Order Paper. The Resolution is in the usual terms, and, if it is agreed to, the draft Orders will be laid before His Majesty in Council as soon as possible after the King's reply to the Address is received.
39§ It is proposed to apply the Manœuvres Acts for a period of three calendar months from July 15 over two areas, one in East Anglia and the other in East Kent, the former area comprising parts of the Counties of Cambridge, Suffolk, Essex and Hertford. Maps showing the areas have been sent to the Library. In the East Anglian manœuvre area the 1st and 2nd Divisions from Aldershot, the nth Infantry Brigade and attached troops from Colchester, and the 4th Guards Brigade from London will train in the manœuvre area from August 8 to September 11. The 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps will co-operate in the training in this area from August 23 to September 11. The Royal Air Force will also cooperate. Approximately 20,000 troops will be training. Divisional and inter-divisional exercises will take place, and on the conclusion of this training it is proposed to hold a skeleton force exercise from September 20 to 22. Only headquarters of formations and signal units will participate in this exercise. In the 40 East Kent manœuvre area the 10th Infantry Brigade and attached troops from Shorncliffe and the 12th Infantry Brigade and attached troops from Dover will train in this area from August 23 to September 10. There will be no tanks in the area, but the Royal Air Force will co-operate. Approximately 5,000 troops will be training. There will be brigade and inter-brigade exercises. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to make two Orders in Council under the Military Manœuvres Acts, 1897 and 1911, drafts of which were presented to this House on the 9th day of February last.—(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly: the said Address to be presented to His Majesty by the Lords with White Staves.
§ House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past six o'clock.