MR. HUNTERI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the appointment of Mr. Nandi, Dr. Grech, and Baron Chapelle as representative members of the Executive Council in Malta, has been approved or confirmed by Her Majesty's Government?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSAfter the General Election of the Malta Council of Government last year, Baron Chapelle and two other elected members who belonged to the Party which had obtained a majority in the Council were appointed by the Governor members of the Executive Council, and their appointment was confirmed by the Queen. These gentlemen recently resigned their seats in the Executive Council, and other members of the same Party having declined to succeed them, Dr. Nandi, Dr. Grech, and Mr. Cachia Zammit, who do not belong to that Party, were appointed by the Governor to the vacant seats. Subsequently three members of the Party, having a majority in the Council of the Government, were willing to become members of the Executive Council, and thereupon Dr. Nandi, Dr. Grech, and Mr. Cachia Zammit resigned their seats. In these circumstances, while Her Majesty's Government approved the appointment of these gentlemen, and recognise their loyal action, they have not advised Her Majesty formally to confirm it.
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI cannot give the hon. Member the date, but it is quite recent. If he will put a question on the Paper, I will answer it.