§ Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the order published in the Malta Government Gazette, making it possible for European girls of 16 years of age to be employed in shops regarded as anterooms of establishments of ill-fame; how long such order was in force; whether he was aware of the order; and at whose instance the order was revoked?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe text of the notice to which the hon. Member is presumably referring is appended. It 855W will be seen that the regulation referred to in the notice empowered the commissioner of police to give permission to licensees of wine and spirits shops to allow their daughters to help them in their shops after they had attained the age of 16. I subsequently became aware of the existence of the notice, but I ought to point out that at that time the administration of the Island was in the hands of Ministers responsible to the local legislature, that the regulation in question was made on the advice of Ministers and that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had no authority with regard to the matter. On the suspension of Parliamentary Government towards the end of 1933, the Governor gave consideration to the matter and, on 2nd January, 1934, directed the repeal of the order.