HC Deb 12 July 1955 vol 543 cc1741-2
51. Mr. Teeling

asked the Prime Minister, whether he will consider some form of integration for Malta with those other members of the British Commonwealth which have large Maltese populations and to which migration offers more possibilities than to the United Kingdom; and whether he will, therefore, in consultation with other members of the Commonwealth, invite representatives of some of the Dominions to the coming Round Table Conference on Malta.

The Prime Minister

The proposal made in my statement on 6th July, which proved generally acceptable to the House, is that the Round Table Conference should consider the constitutional questions arising from the proposals put forward by the Maltese Prime Minister for closer association between Malta and the United Kingdom. I see no need to widen its scope in the way suggested. The Commonwealth Governments will be kept fully informed.

Mr. Teeling

Does my right hon. Friend realise, as I am sure he does, that there are more than 100,000 Maltese in Australia, whereas there are not more than about 10,000 in this country? If we are to take on considerable responsibility, would it not be a good idea for other Dominions to do so? In view of the fact that there may be Colonies which would like to join up with other Dominions, would it not be a good idea to augment the present Conference to cover all such problems at the start?

The Prime Minister

The question of migration from Malta is very important. Last year was a record year in Malta's history in that respect. The problem of the Round Table Conference is a constitutional one concerned with this Parliament, and therefore I do not see how I could bring in Commonwealth Governments.

52. Mr. Teeling

asked the Prime Minister whether, at the coming Conference on Malta, he will follow the precedent of the conferences on Ireland in 1917, and later, in which others than elected Members of Parliament and Peers were present.

The Prime Minister

The Conference will be composed of representatives of the political parties here at Westminster but, as I said on 6th July, it would consult with representatives of the political parties in the Maltese Legislative Assembly, and it will, of course, be free to call for any other evidence it may wish to have.

Mr. Teeling

Have there not been three or four general elections in Malta within the last three years, and during the present Maltese Parliament is there not one party which, for the first time, did not get elected? Is it not unfair that that party should not be included? With reference to my mention of Ireland in the Question, does my right hon. Friend realise that at the time I mention there were about 90 people present, and that they included representatives of the Churches, and parties like the Southern Irish Unionists, which was not at that time elected?

The Prime Minister

General Elections are a habit not exclusively confined to Malta. There have, of course, been changes of Government in many lands where they are freely elected. I have not intended that there should be any exclusion of the various points of view; in fact it is very important that we should have all points of view in Malta made available to us in these discussions.

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