§ Mr. AMERY(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he is yet in a position to announce the composition of the Royal Commission on Malta?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty has been pleased to approve the appointment of the following gentlemen to serve on the Malta Royal Commission:
Lord Askwith will be chairman of the Commission, and Mr. A. J. Dawe, of the Colonial Office, has been appointed to be secretary.
- The Right Hon. Lord Askwith, K.C.B.
- Sir Walter Egerton, K.C.M.G.
- The Count de Sails, K.C.M.G., C.V.O.
§ Mr. AMERYCan the right hon. Gentleman, tell us how soon it will be possible for the Commission to start on its work?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot give a date, but it is expected that it will arrive at the island in the early part of next month.
§ Mr. HANNONCan the right hon. Gentleman give the terms of reference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe terms of reference were given to the House some little time ago.
§ Mr. MAXTONWhich of these representatives is representative of the Labour movement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe question of the Labour movement, as separate from the large constitutional issues, is not involved.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs not the question of Labour representation in Malta one of the important constitutional issues?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAbsolutely, not a shadow of it.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs it not in accordance with precedent for a Commission appointed to report on a constitutional issue to be a Parliamentary Commission?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, I do not think so. In this case, it is very desirable—in fact, it is essential—that the Commission should not be a Parliamentary one.
§ Mr. HORE BELISHAWhy has the Prime Minister departed from precedent in this matter? Is it not a fact that, in regard to Palestine and India, Parliament was represented on the Commission?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn this case, it was necessary to have representatives who were not Members of the House of Commons.
Earl WINTERTONThe answer of the right hon. Gentleman to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton) does not, I suppose, mean that this Commission will have no power to inquire into the grievances of the Labour party and the Constitutional party in Malta if they wish to put their grievances before the Commission?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am very much obliged to the Noble Lord for the opportunity he has given to me to make that point perfectly clear. That is so. But it is not a question of Labour representation. It is a question of constitutional rights and constitutional grievances which are held in common.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question, as he has not done so? What are the reasons why Parliament is not represented on this Commission, as has always been the case in the past? Will he add a representative now?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn account of the very special conditions of the Maltese problem.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes the right hon. Gentleman think that Parliament is disqualified from forming a judgment on these matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not call it disqualified, but it was considered that it would be far better that the report of the Commission should come to the House of Commons from persons of the experience and of the type of those who have been appointed to form this Commission.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs it not right and proper that Parliament should have an opportunity of informing itself upon these matters?
Mr. ERNEST WINTERTONWill my right hon. Friend consider making an addition to the Commission of one Member from each of the parties?