HC Deb 28 October 1965 vol 718 c339
26. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on Gibraltar.

Mrs. White

There has been no change in the general nature of the restrictions imposed by the Spanish authorities at the frontier with Gibraltar from those set out in the White Paper presented last April. Since mid-July delays to vehicles entering and leaving Gibraltar have been reduced from approximately one hour for each vehicle to an average of between 10 and 30 minutes for each vehicle.

Mr. Wall

Can the Minister say what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to initiate talks with Spain? Can she also say when it is proposed to give constitutional advances to Gibraltar from the present interim constitution which will guarantee that Gibraltar and the Gibraltarians will remain forever British?

Mrs. White

The hon. Member has a Question down to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary for answer today. On the second part of his supplementary question, he will have seen the statement of 7th October, by the elected members of the Gibraltar Legislative Council which recognises that precipitate action at present would not be in the interests of the people of Gibraltar.

Mr. Maude

Is the hon. Lady aware that this is not good enough? The Gibraltar crisis has gone on now for a year. Is it not time that Her Majesty's Government, which through the actions and speeches of the Prime Minister were in some measure responsible for precipitating this crisis, should at least take some action to bring it to an end?

Mrs. White

As the hon. Member, who has come rather recently to this field, will be aware, his own Government when in office had a ten-year crisis in Gibraltar and it was very largely their actions and the tactless way in which they introduced the present Constitution which was responsible for the crisis we are in now.