HC Deb 22 October 1968 vol 770 cc1076-8
15. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on constitutional developments in Gibraltar.

21. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent conversations with the Government of Gibraltar relating to constitutional advance; and when he expects elections under the new constitution to be held.

28. Sir W. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he was able to have whilst in Gibraltar during the week of 9th to 13th October with the Gibraltar authorities about the new Constitution for Gibraltar; and when the necessary Orders in Council are to be laid and implemented.

Mr. Mulley

The question of the new constitution was not raised with my right hon. Friend the then Commonwealth Secretary by Gibraltar Ministers when he met them recently.

A new constitution is in course of preparation on the lines agreed upon at the constitutional discussions held last July.

As then agreed, the Government of Gibraltar is also arranging to obtain advice about the revision of the electoral system, and arrangements are being made for holding the expert enquiry on administrative issues arising out of the new constitution. As my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs indicated in reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennett) on 25th July, the intention is that the new constitution should be introduced in time for a general election in the spring of next year. [Vol. 769, c. 981–3.]

Mr. Wall

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for closer links with Gibraltar? Now that the two offices have been amalgamated, would it be possible to signify the special status of Gibraltar by putting her under the Home Office?

Mr. Mulley

It would be inappropriate for Gibraltar, which must remain, for reasons that the hon. Member understands, a non-self-governing territory under the United Nations Charter, not to be under my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Does the Minister of State not find it significant that the Gibraltarians in these negotiations were not prepared to accept the word of the British Government as regards future links, and insisted upon them being in writing. To what extent was this contributed to by the disastrous remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, at the beginning of the discussions?

Mr. Mulley

There is absolutely no substance whatever for the allegations which the hon. Member has made. Gibraltar has been part of Her Majesty's Dominions for over 200 years, and it was thought right, and the Gibraltarians were happy about this, that appropriate wording should be introduced in the Preamble of the Order that will promulgate the new constitution.

Sir W. Teeling

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that all the answers given recently on Gibraltar ignore the position of the Indians in Gibraltar, and will he assure us that they are being allowed to be considered as Gibraltarians in the coming discussions?

Mr. Mulley

We are aware of these problems and are having discussions about them. If hon. Gentlemen want to know about detailed aspects of the question it is always helpful if they are put on the paper.