CAB129-78 — Page 207

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STATEMENT BY MR. MACLAY AND MR. PICKTHORN

We Pen 28ge

agreement with the economice songultative, and administrative recommendations in the Report. We are, however, unable to join in the recommendation that there should be Maltese representation in the British House of Commons at this stage.

2. We consider that there is urgent need for---

(a) revision of the present "list of reserved matters ";

(b) improvements in the administrative and consultative machinery of

government both in Malta and in London, and

(c) continued aid from the United Kingdom towards the economic develop- ment of Malta and towards the improvement of the Maltese standard of living and social services.

3. We agree

(a) that the historic association of Malta with the United Kingdom, and the development of Malta as an island fortress, have produced an island economy which, in relation to the size of the population, means that viability as an independent unit is difficult to foresee;

(b) that the special characteristics and strategic position of Malta as a fortress require that for the foreseeable future overriding powers of legislation and authority for administration in the fields of external affairs and defence must be retained by the Government at Westminster,

and that for these reasons one road to the attainment of full self-government by Malta is blocked.

4. While we recognise that representation at Westminster may well prove to be the ultimate answer to the constitutional desires and needs of both the peoples of the United Kingdom and of Malta, we are not convinced that representation in the next Parliament of the United Kingdom is in accordance with the realities of the present situation.

5. It has been made clear that all shades of opinion in Malta desire authority and responsibility for all matters other than defence and foreign affairs to remain with the Maltese Parliament. The Report accepts this view, with which we concur. The Report further recommends that the Maltese Parliament should continue to be the authority for raising indirect taxation and, during an indeterminate period, direct taxation.

6. In these conditions, if Malta is represented at Westminster, the Maltese Members of Parliament will have full rights to debate and vote, not only on questions of defence and foreign affairs, but also on all matters affecting the United Kingdom, including the voting of supply, direct and indirect taxation, and colonial affairs. They will have equality of function with all other Members of Parliament at Westminster, but they will not have equality of responsibility: they will have no responsibility to their Maltese constituents for Maltese domestic affairs, including taxation, which will remain with the Maltese Parliament.

7. Separation, to this extent, of authority and function from responsibility can, in our opinion, hardly be justified, and the argument that whatever happens in the United Kingdom can be of interest to and have an effect in Malta seems to us far-reaching and capable of too indefinite extension.

8. Can Maltese membership of the Parliament at Westminster then be justified as a first step towards a degree of integration of the social and