Discussions

HC Deb 27 November 1958 vol 596 cc523-5

4. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about his talks with Maltese political leaders and the future constitutional arrangements for Malta.

11. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the future of Malta.

36. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the negotiations with the representatives of Malta on the new Constitution; and when he hopes to complete them and to be in a position to report on them to Parliament.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I hope to make a statement after the conclusion of the present discussions with the Maltese political parties. I cannot at present say when that will be.

Mr. Wall

Is my right hon. Friend meeting each of the three delegations separately? Would not it help towards a rapid and satisfactory conclusion if the delegations could agree to sink their differences and to meet round the same table?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The reply to both parts of the supplementary question is "Yes", Sir.

Mr. Rankin

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep before him the fact that while he waits, the unemployment situation in Malta is getting worse and worse? Will he do his best to speed up the conclusion of this matter?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is simply not so. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not lend himself to the suggestion that meanwhile nothing is happening about the economic future of Malta. Quite the reverse is the case.

Mr. Rankin

Would it be in order. Mr. Speaker, for me to say that it is so?

31. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent, in discussions on independence for Malta. Her Majesty's Government have considered the continuation of United Kingdom economic aid.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I do not think it would be helpful to say what has or has not been discussed at a conference which is still sitting.

Mr. Cronin

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is an important principle of our obligation to Malta? Would he agree that this country has certain definite moral obligations to the people of Malta? Will he say definitely whether those obligations depend on Malta remaining a Crown Colony or whether they will continue if she is independent?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think we all, Maltese and Britons alike, have duties to each other.

32. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he invited representatives of the Progressive Constitutional Party to the talks now being held on the prospective constitution for Malta, having regard to the circumstances that this party has never yet been represented in the Malta Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Because, like the Round Table Conference, I wished to consult as wide a range of public opinion as possible on the future constitutional arrangements. This party held four seats in the Assembly from 1951 to 1953.

Mr. Cronin

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that his analogy is somewhat inexact? His Round Table Conference was a fact-finding body interrogating witnesses, whereas on this occasion the analogy is more appropriate to the occasion on which he summoned representatives in June-July, 1955, and not this party? There can be no similarity.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I do not agree. I want to find out facts and I also want to give some facts as a result of this conference.