§ 1. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the scope, control and future organisation of the television service in Malta.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Hugh Fraser)I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Deptford (Sir L. Plummer) on 23rd February.
§ Mr. HughesThe hon. Gentleman must know that there is great discontent in Malta about this and that it has not been consistent with the legitimate aspirations of the people of Malta, and will he, in conjunction with other Ministers, take steps by election to determine the wishes of the people of Malta and to act in accordance with those wishes?
§ Mr. FraserThis has really very little to do with the organisation of a television service in Malta.
§ Mr. EdeIs the Under-Secretary of State aware that there is a tendency among all parties in Malta to develop strong censorship, and can he say 1718 whether these regulations will provide for reasonable freedom of speech?
§ Mr. FraserThis essentially will be an independent statutory authority, rather similar to the authority which we have in this country.