§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I beg to ask my noble friend who leads this House a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, what assistance do His Majesty's Government propose to afford to the Government and people of Malta in meeting the heavy cost of repairing and restoring the severe damage suffered by that island in the air attacks upon it?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (VISCOUNT CRANBORNE) (Lord Cecil)My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for putting this question to me. As the House will appreciate, the repair of the heavy war damage inflicted by the enemy on Malta is clearly a task which would be beyond the unaided financial resources of the Government of Malta and the property owners within any reasonable post-war period. I think there will be general agreement that the outstanding gallantry shown by the people of Malta in the face of enemy attacks of unprecedented length and severity, calls for some special recognition. In view, therefore, of the unique position of Malta and of the extraordinary sufferings which it has so gallantly undergone, His Majesty's Government propose to seek the approval of Parliament for a free gift of £10,000,000 to the Government of Malta, to be used for the purposes of the restoration of war damage and the rebuilding of Malta after the war. They propose that this sum should be paid in the first place to Trustees to be nominated, who will make the money available to the Government of Malta as and when required.
The gift will be available for meeting liabilities under legislation which, with the approval of His Majesty's Government, the Government of Malta have put before the Council of Government, providing for schemes of compensation for war damage to property on lines generally similar to those in this country, as well as any other expenses incidental to post-war 818 rebuilding. If the actual expenditure under those heads falls short of the total voted, the balance will be applied to other purposes beneficial to Malta after the war. If, on the other hand, the total liability of the Government of Malta for compensation and rebuilding, after allowing for contributions from property owners, exceeds the sum of £10,000,000, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to make available such further sums as may be required to meet liabilities which are found, in the circumstances as existing after the war, to be beyond the capacity of the Government of Malta to meet from its own resources, having regard to all other calls upon these resources at that time. A Vote will be submitted to Parliament for this purpose as soon as possible.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, perhaps the House will permit me to make a very brief observation on the statement which has been made by my noble friend. Having recently returned temporarily from that island, I know full well how deeply grateful the people of Malta will be for the generous contribution which His Majesty's Government have seen fit to make to assist in the rebuilding of the towns and villages of that island. The courage and the heroism of this island people, "these triumphant sons of truest blue," as Lord Byron so well expressed it, have earned the regard of the British Empire and indeed of the whole civilized world.