§ 12. Mr. Loughlinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has given to the petition from the Parliamentary Labour Party in Malta requesting amendment of the Broadcasting Ordinance.
§ Mr. FisherMy right hon. Friend has mentioned this matter to the Prime Minister of Malta, who is looking into it and will let him have his considered views.
§ Mr. LoughlinDoes the Under-Secretary consider that in this case "mentioning" is the appropriate action? Does he not think it scandalous that the main political party is refused facilities for broadcasting its political point of view, whilst other parties not representative of the people of Malta have full facilities? Where is this democracy to which we pay so much lip-service? Does he not think it about time that something was done?
§ Mr. FisherPerhaps I should have said that my right hon. Friend has discussed this matter with the Prime Minister of Malta and not merely mentioned it to him. As the hon. Gentleman knows, Mr. Mintoff has put forward this petition. We have, naturally, sent it to the Prime Minister of Malta for his observations, and we are now expecting his detailed comments very shortly.
§ Mr. HealeyBut would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the Malta Labour Party has been at some disadvantage in broadcasting during elections in Malta because of the way in which this Ordinance has been interpreted by the local courts? Is it not the fact that the Secretary of State still has the ultimate authority in this matter? And can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that when a reply is finally given to Mr. Mintoff's petition it will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT SO that the House may know what it is?
§ Mr. FisherCertainly, but the Malta Labour Party's proposal is to amend the Broadasting Ordinance in Malta without it going before the Legislative Assembly, and that the Ordinance should be amended to delete the reference to religious sentiment, so I do not think that we have yet come into the matter. We have had no representation on the subject from the Government of Malta, and no legislation has been brought forward in Malta.
§ 14. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority the Governor of Malta enacted the Broadcasting Ordinance of 28th July 1961.
§ Mr. FisherThe Ordinance was enacted under powers given to the Governor in Section 22 of the Malta (Constitution) Order in Council, 1959.
§ Mr. DugdaleThe Under-Secretary is well aware that the Broadcasting Ordinance contains in Section 7 (1, a) the statement that nothing is to be included in programmes which offends against religious sentiment. Is he aware that, unlike any other part of the Commonwealth, as far as I know, it offends against "religious sentiment" in Malta to vote Labour, or to be a member of the Labour Party? Does he think it right that people should be refused absolution if they vote Labour, which is what happens in Malta today? Does he think it right that they should be refused the rites of the Church if they vote Labour? Does he think it right that a country that operates such a system should be allowed to have a Broadcasting Ordinance based/on what is called "offence against religious sentiment"?
§ Mr. FisherPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman's definition of religious sentiment as being entirely political would not find general acceptance in Malta.