HC Deb 02 June 1965 vol 713 c1699
10. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions have been given to the officer commanding in Gibraltar regarding the crossing of the Spanish frontier by Service men.

Mr. Healey

None, Sir.

Mr. Lubbock

Has not the Minister had any information from the officer commanding in Gibraltar about the insults to which our boys are being subjected? Will he bear in mind that Service men spend a great deal of money across the border in Spain and that, if the Spaniards want to hit at us, this is one way of getting back at Franco where it hurts, and that is in his pocket?

Mr. Healey

My experience of the British Service man is that he takes a fairly robust attitude to insults. Our Service men, if they go to Spain for recreation, do so because they enjoy it; and I would not propose to interfere with their opportunities of recreation.