§ 3.55 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, with the permission of your Lordships I should like to make a statement about Malta which has been made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. It is as follows:
"In the discussions which he has been holding with my right honourable friend the Colonial Secretary, the Maltese Prime Minister has put forward proposals for a closer association between Malta and the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government welcome this initiative. They feel sure that in all parts of the House there will be a sympathetic response to the suggestion that the two peoples should draw more closely together.
"The administrative, financial and constitutional aspects of these proposals are closely linked. The administrative and financial aspects are at present under discussion with the Maltese Government Delegation. On the constitutional side, there is included a proposal that Malta, while retaining its own Legislative Assembly, should in future be represented in the Parliament at Westminster The Government feel that all sections of political opinion in Parliament should have an opportunity to consider, and express their views upon, a new constitutional development of such importance.
478 "They therefore propose to convene a Round-Table Conference, comprising representatives of all the political Parties in the Parliament at Westminster, to consider constitutional questions arising from the proposals. This Conference will meet during the Summer Recess. It will call into consultation representatives of the political Parties in the Legislative Assembly of Malta. Her Majesty's Government believe that by this procedure of practical co-operation between the two Parliaments this imaginative proposal can be considered in a way that accords with its constitutional importance and with the interests of both peoples."
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, I am in the unfortunate position of not having been made aware beforehand that this statement was going to be made, and consequently I have not been in touch with the leaders of my own Party. Therefore, the views that I express are purely my own, which may be recalled, if necessary. As the noble Marquess has said, this matter is obviously one of very great constitutional importance. These proposals represent a complete departure from anything that we have ever done. What is proposed is analogous to the system which the French have tried—but whether that system has been altogether successful or not is not for me to say. It will obviously have repercussions. If this system is to be adopted for Malta, it obviously would be difficult to resist it for certain other territories. I welcome the idea, which is a bold one, because we all desire to be on close terms with Malta. The drawback is that in our Parliament, a Member of Parliament must be a Member for all purposes. It is impossible to differentiate between broad issues concerning the Commonwealth, as a whole, and purely domestic issues, such as, for instance, the Forth Bridge or what sort of television service there is to be. Therefore, the whole subject needs careful consideration.
The proposal which the Government have advanced of a Round-Table Conference is itself a novelty. I have heard of a round-table conference to try to solve difficulties between Parties, but I have not heard of a round-table conference to try to thresh out the appropriate policy. But the fact that the idea is new is no reason for saying that it is 479 bad—indeed, I am inclined to think that it is a good idea. I would merely add this further comment. I do not suppose the personnel of this Conference has been considered at the present time. I have no doubt that the noble Marquess will bear in mind, in consideration with others, the possibility of Members of your Lordships' House being included in this Conference, which concerns a matter that is obviously of great importance to both Houses of Parliament.
LORD REAMy Lords, in thanking the noble Marquess for this most interesting statement, I should like to dissociate noble Lords on these Benches from the view, not perhaps totally held on the Benches on my left, that because this is an innovation, new and rather imaginative, it is therefore, perhaps, to be looked at with suspicion. I should like to congratulate the Government on bringing this thing to a head, particularly as understand that the consultation is being worked on, and drawn together, and not drawn apart, both by Mr. Mintoff, the Prime Minister, and Dr. Borg Oliver, hacked, of course, by our excellent representative in Malta, Sir Robert Laycock. With such good will on both sides and, I am sure, from everybody concerned, I wish this conference all good fortune.
§ EARL JOWITTIf the noble Lord was referring to me, may I say that I did not suggest that the idea should be looked at with suspicion, but I do suggest that it should be looked at with great care.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI think we should all agree with that view: that is why we are setting up the Round-Table Conference. The noble and learned Earl, Lord Jowitt—I do not complain in the least of his remarks—asked me two definite questions. The first concerned the membership of the Conference. He said that while, no doubt, that matter had still to be considered, he would like to know whether Members of your Lordships' House would be included: whether they could be members. Of course, the actual detailed arrangements will be a matter for consideration between the Parties through the usual channels, but I think I might say straight out that Members of your Lordships' House will not be excluded from the Conference. I hope that it will be representative of both 480 Houses. The other question was whether this proposal would create a precedent. Of course, that is a very natural question. There are no two Colonies that are exactly alike, and there are, I believe, considerations which differentiate Malta from other Colonies. Therefore, I should not like to accept any suggestion that this creates a precedent. I should like to thank the noble Lord, Lord Rea, for the words he has spoken.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess one further question? Will the representatives of our Parliament to this Round-Table Conference be appointed by the Government or by Parliament?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThey will be nominated, as I understand it. What is intended is that they should be in proportion to the strength of the Parties in another place, and the Opposition Parties will be invited to nominate their own representatives. That, clearly, is right.