Radio Telephone Service

HC Deb 17 April 1957 vol 568 cc202-3W

65. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the fact that wireless telegraphy is a reserved matter in the Malta Constitution why it has not been possible since last Wednesday to communicate by this means from Malta; and what is the procedure if the internal telephone and telegraph system of Malta is controlled by the Maltese Government and the latter refuses as last week to allow this system to be linked with wireless telegraphy to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Because the Maltese Government were dissatisfied with the radio telephone service they instructed the Maltese Post Office on 10th April not to connect any further calls until the service was improved. After tests the service was restored on 15th April. There has been no interruption in the cable or wireless telegraph services to or from Malta.

As regards the second part of the Question, I am advised that the maintenance of telecommunications services is a reserved matter. The question of a procedure does not therefore arise.