Mrs. Castle Does that mean that if the talks are still going on on, say, Thursday, we shall not get a statement? Could not we have an interim statement from his right hon. Friend before the House rises?
Mr. Macleod It would be wrong for this House to go on sitting from day to day just on the chance that on one of those days it would be appropriate to make a statement. That would be absurd.
As to whether any interim statement could be made, I will put that to my right hon. Friend, although I am fairly confident that his answer would be against it. As one can never tell about these things—conferences are fluid things, particularly this sort of conference—I am sure that it would be wrong to make an interim statement to the House unless a clearly defined point of either agreement or disagreement had been reached.
Mrs. Castle Could the Leader of the House at any rate give us an assurance—and surely this is a reasonable and fair question to ask—that an irrevocable step will not be taken in relation to constitutional developments in Malta until this House has had an opportunity to discuss the matter?
Mr. Macleod No irrevocable steps in that sense can ever be taken because a Bill such as an independence Bill must come before the House. It would be wrong to try to fetter the discretion of the Secretary of State in dealing with a conference of this nature.
I have answered one of the two points put by the hon. Member for Penistone. The other point he made was something of a supplementary to the question asked about the Denning report. I do not think, with respect, that the hon. Member will expect me to put a gloss on the words of the Prime Minister. The procedure in these matters is clearly defined and understood. As the Prime Minister said, security is a matter that is not very easy to define. He said that he did not believe that there would be any difficulty, nor do I, in the discussions taking place with the Leader of the Opposition—as they have done before on a number of occasions—nor did he believe that there would be any difficulty in reaching an appropriate agreement.
An echo of the Welsh debate came from the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. S. O. Davies), who spoke briefly in the debate yesterday. Regarding the points he made in that debate about unemployment, I hope that he will agree, even if he did not accept it all 263 that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour gave a cogent answer at the end of yesterday's debate. Naturally, his other main point about the Local Government Boundary Commission was somewhat out with the scope of my hon. Friend's speech, but I will see that he is sent a separate answer about that by the Minister.
Mr. S. O. Davies Can the Leader of the House give me an assurance that during the Recess no decision will be taken on any proposals following any recommendations that the Local Boundary Commission for Wales may make to the Government until Parliament reassembles and can have an opportunity of discussing such matters on the Floor of the House?
Mr. Macleod Such matters can always be brought to the Floor of the House. I do not know of any such proposals and, therefore, I think that the Opposition are safeguarded from the point of view that the hon. Member has in mind. I would not think it right to give an assurance which might have the effect of holding up altogether action by the Minister.
Mr. S. O. Davies The right hon. Gentleman's last few words can only be construed as a threat to the people of Wales. Will he be explicit and give an assurance that whatever recommendations may be made—and we have more than a suspicion about them—they will not be ratified until the House meets again after the Recess?
Mr. Macleod I cannot be wholly explicit on a matter which concerns one of my right hon. Friend's Departments. I will see that a letter is sent to him today on this matter, although I do not believe that the hon. Member's concern is, on the
