§ The Minister of State for Colonial Affairs (Mr. Henry Hopkinson)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a statement about the Prime Minister of Malta's attendance at the Coronation.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told hon. Members in reply to Questions on Wednesday that he had sent a message to the Prime Minister of Malta and made certain suggestions about the arrangements for his attendance at the Coronation. My right hon. Friend has now had Dr. Borg Olivier's reply, and I am glad to be able to inform the House that he has now felt able to accept the invitation, and will be coming very shortly to London.
§ Mr. CallaghanMay I say that everyone in the House associates himself with what the right hon. Gentleman has said about the happy conclusion to this unfortunate incident, and that we were very glad to read of the way in which, in the Legislature in Malta yesterday, the news of the Prime Minister's attendance was received with such acclamation?
§ Sir Edward KeelingAs I was recently in Malta, perhaps you will allow me to say, Mr. Speaker, that I am quite sure that this announcement will be received with the greatest satisfaction by the people of Malta, who are intensely loyal to the Crown and were visited by the Queen not long before Her Majesty came to the Throne.