§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) in view of the imminence of 1st May when traditional celebrations in the form of public meetings are held in Malta, if he will take steps to relax the relevant restrictions so that the traditional meetings can be held;
(2) if he is aware that the law relating to the holding of public meetings in Malta requires application for a Government permit to hold such meetings and operates so that, when a permit is applied for, the grant of the permit is delayed a long time and so near the date of the meeting as to make impossible the holding of the relevant meeting; and if he will take steps to rectify this.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodPublic meetings were held in Malta on 1st May last year and in previous years. I have no evidence that the provisions of the law to which the hon. Member refers have the results which he ascribes to them.