§ LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL rose to move, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to make three Orders in Council under the Military Manœuvres Acts, 1897 and 1911, drafts of which were presented to this House on the 1st day of February last. The noble Lord said: My Lords, 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 three 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.
§ It is proposed to apply the Manœuvres Acts for a period of three calendar months from July 1 over three areas—namely, the Aldershot Command Area comprising parts of the Counties of Berks, Sussex and Southampton; the Southern Command Area comprising parts of the Counties of Wilts and Southampton; and the Suffolk Area. Maps showing the areas have been sent to the Library. With regard to the Aldershot and Southern Command areas, most of these were used less than five years ago, and as provided in Section 1 (i) of the Military Manœuvres Act, 1911, the consent of the county and borough councils concerned to their areas being used again has been obtained. This consent, I am glad to say, was immediately forthcoming in all cases. With regard to the Aldershot Command manœuvre area, the 1st and 2nd Divisions from Aldershot and the 4th Guards Brigade from London will train in the manœuvre area from August 1 to September 10. The 4th Battalion Royal Tank Corps will co-operate in the training in this area from August 8 to September 10. The Royal Air Force will also co-operate. Approximately 20,000 troops will be training. Brigade and inter-brigade exercises will take place. On the conclusion of this training it is proposed to hold a skeleton 649 force exercise from September 20 to September 22, in which headquarters of formations and signal units only will participate.
§ In the Southern Command manœuvre area the Mobile Division (1st and 2nd Cavalry Brigades and 1st Tank Brigade) and the 3rd Division will train from the middle of July to September 10. Approximately 12,000 troops will be training. Brigade and inter-brigade exercises will take place. The Royal Air Force will also co-operate. In the Suffolk Manœuvre Area, the 4th Division will train from August 15 to September 15. A small portion of the 7th Battalion, Royal Tank Corps, will also participate in this training, and the Royal Air Force will co-operate. Approximately 10,000 troops will be training. There will be brigade and inter-brigade exercises afterwards. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying His Majesty to make three Orders in Council under the Military Manœuvres Acts, 1897 and 1911, drafts of which were presented to this House on the 1st 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.