HL Deb 17 June 1954 vol 187 c1188

2.42 p.m.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is the case that spectators at the Queen's Birthday parade in Malta were circulated with an instruction to the Services not to salute during the playing of the Maltese National Anthem, and whether, if this is the case, an apology should not be offered to the Government of Malta for this grave discourtesy, and an assurance given that in future on this occasion the practice of not saluting during the playing of the Maltese National Anthem will be discontinued.]

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)

My Lords, I regret that at present I have insufficient information to let the noble Lord have a full Answer, but if he will put his Question down again for next Thursday I am assured that my noble friend will then be in a position to give a full reply.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

Of course, I accept the noble Earl's reply and I am grateful to him for saying that he will obtain the information for which I have asked. I am sure he will appreciate that I put down the Question at short notice, in order to enable a reply to be made as soon as possible after the events took place in Malta.