HL Deb 29 July 1960 vol 225 cc983-4
VISCOUNT STANSGATE

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what precisely are the imperial reasons which make it impossible to promise independence to Malta.]

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have not said that it is impossible to promise independence to Malta. My right honourable friend the Colonial Secretary, when he made his statement on July 27, which I repeated in your Lordships' House, made it clear that he was concerned with the next step in Malta's constitutional advance, and he was not making any prophecies about the future after that.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

Does the noble Earl really mean, after the interchange of questions and answers the other day, that there is any real prospect of Malta getting independence?

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, I think I mean exactly what I said to-day and also what was said in the exchange of questions and answers two days ago.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

But the plain question is this: is it a fact that imperial policy will make it impossible for Malta to secure independence?

THE EARL OF PERTH

My Lords, as I have already stated, Her Majesty's Government have not said that it is impossible to promise independence to Malta.

Perhaps the noble Viscount will read the rest of what I said. I think the point is covered as far as I can cover it at the present time.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, I did listen, with great respect, to what the noble Earl said. But, unfortunately, we had all this at the beginning with Cyprus, and we want to avoid the same thing happening in future with Malta.