HC Deb 18 February 1958 vol 582 cc1024-5
23. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the present intentions of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the future constitution of Malta.

36. Mr. Owen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with discussions concerning the future constitution of Malta; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) and other hon. Members on 23rd January.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the great concern recently expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and others in the Church Assembly about religious freedom in Malta, and will he give an assurance that any new Constitution will include specific safeguards to prevent the violation of the principle of religious toleration?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am on record as regarding that as of first importance and I hope that, in addition to reminding the House of the speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the hon. Member will also draw attention to Sir Kenneth Grubb's letter in The Times of yesterday.

Mr. J. Griffiths

In view of Press statements that Her Majesty's Ministers have met the 1922 Committee and discussed the Malta situation, and as the Government made the matter of Malta's future Constitution an all-party matter and set up a Round Table Conference to discuss it, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether Her Majesty's Government still stand by the proposals of the Round Table Conference which the House debated and accepted?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly, Sir. Her Majesty's Government have not departed from the policy announced in the House in favour of the integration plan, on the assumption that, as recommended by the Malta Round Table Conference, the Maltese people themselves demonstrate clearly and unmistakably that they desire it.

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