§ Mr. T. Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial aid has been given or promised to Malta since the end of the war by British taxpayers; and what steps the Maltese 188W Government are taking to deal with the problem created by the doubling of the Maltese population every 35 or 40 years.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe following financial assistance from United Kingdom funds have been given or promised to Malta since the war:
(a) Malta (Reconstruction) Act: £ 1947 For War Damage and Reconstruction (in addition to £10,000,000 granted during the war) 20,000,000 (b) Colonial Development and Welfare assistance: 1946 Territorial allocation under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1,000,000 1947 to 1949 Additional grant to the Royal Malta University from Colonial Development and Welfare Central funds 132,500 1950 Supplementary territorial allocation under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1,500,000 (c) Other assistance: 1946 to 1949 Contributions towards food subsidies 1,650,000 1951–52 and 1952–53 Grants for civil defence and stockpiling, approximately 584,000 Total £24,866,500 With regard to the second part of the Question, the Maltese Government are trying to deal with the problem by increasing emigration, which is their responsibility under the Constitution. I understand that approximately 29,500 persons have emigrated from Malta since the end of the war.