§ LORD STRICKLANDasked His Majesty's Government if they are aware that the Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor in Malta prescribe a solemn public ceremony for the taking by a new Governor of an Oath of Office requiring him to govern in accordance with Letters Patent which enact that "there shall be an Executive Council "; whether, in the present circumstances, His Majesty's Government will consider the necessity of publishing forthwith New Letters Patent suspending whatever in the Oaths of Office is irreconcilable with the policy of governing without an Executive Council.
§ THE EARL OF PLYMOUTHThe "Oath for the due execution of his Office" referred to in Clause 3 of the Letters230WA Patent, dated the 14th April, 1921, constituting the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta, is in the form of the Official Oath referred to in Section 3 of the Promissory Oaths Act, 1868. No reference to the Letters Patent is in fact contained in this Oath or in the other Oath to be taken by the Governor which is mentioned in that clause. The second part of the Question does not therefore appear to arise. As there are no Ministers at present holding office in Malta, His Majesty's Government cannot accept any suggestion that Government in these circumstances without an Executive Council is contrary to the Letters Patent.