§ 59. Major Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the forthcoming referendum on the future constitutional position of Malta, Her Majesty's Government will accept a bare majority as satisfying the conditions contained in paragraph 80 of the Round-Table Conference Report referring to the clear and unmistakable wishes of the Maltese people.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI cannot at this stage add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave in the House on 24th January in reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) that the House will no doubt weigh carefully all the relevant factors when it comes to debate the Report after the referendum.
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§ 66. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the disturbances which have taken place at public meetings in Malta recently; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be freedom for all to express their views on the forthcoming referendum on the future status of this island.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." On the second part, it is of the first importance that there should be freedom for all to express their views. As the House knows, the conduct of the referendum is a matter for the Maltese Government. The Maltese Prime Minister has deplored acts of rowdyism at meetings of political opponents in Malta, and there have been a number of prosecutions and convictions in the Maltese courts.