§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, a Member of the Council of Government or Legislature of Malta, representing the people of that Island, having been cited before a judge for words spoken in debate in the Council, and condemned to three days' imprisonment, and so punished accordingly for such words so spoken, What course Her Majesty's Government propose to pursue for the purpose of securing to Members of the Malta Legislature the privilege of freedom of debate and speech?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, the subject is now under consideration, and a communication will shortly be addressed to the Governor of Malta, embodying the views of Her Majesty's Government on the course which ought to be adopted.
§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERasked, whether his hon. Friend would furnish the House with any further information as to what the views of the Government were?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERAs I said, the subject is under consideration. The intention is to suggest to the Governor of Malta the framing of an Ordinance embedying the views which Her Majesty's Government entertain on the subject.