Chief Minister of Gibraltar (Discussions) (Hansard, 8 December 1969)

§ 26. Mr. Wall
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his discussions with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

§ Mr. George Thomson
I am glad to say that we were able to reach full agreement on a three Year Development Programme, designed to strengthen the Gibraltar economy, which in terms of British aid amounts to about £4 million. An agreed communiqué will be issued shortly to coincide with the return of the Chief Minister to Gibraltar this afternoon. I am arranging for a copy of the communiqué to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mr. Wall
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the financial aid will implement all the suggestions made in the Beeching Plan, and can he further say something about the constitutional future of Gibraltar? Surely it is impossible that it will always remain a colony? Is there not urgency about this because, according to the Treaty of Rome, if we enter the Common Market so does Gibraltar?

§ Mr. Thomson
On the first point, the programme that I have just announced was agreed by the Government of Gibraltar and ourselves to be a full programme, to be carried out in a period of three years. It was generally accepted that any extra money could not have been used during that period. The programme includes a useful list of constructive projects inside Gibraltar. On the second point, we keep closely in touch with the Government of Gibraltar about the developments in Europe. It is only a few months ago since we had a very important constitutional development in Gibraltar, and the Preamble to that Constitution contains very solemn pledges on the part of Her Majesty's Government to the people of Gibraltar.

Mr. Colin Jackson
Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Chief Minister made any representations to him about the air connections between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom, which have been decreasing lately, leaving no flights at all on Wednesdays and Thursdays?

§ Mr. Thomson
We are aware of the concern in Gibraltar about air communications. It is a concern that has lasted for some time. There is no specific point about that in the communiqué which will be issued later this afternoon.

§ Mr. Russell Johnston
Can I press the Minister a little on the second part of the Question asked by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall)? The policy of the Chief Minister of Gibraltar is integration with this country. Are the Government yet in any position to make any statement about their attitude?

§ Mr. Thomson
This was an important meeting that has just taken place, the subject of which was the development programme for Gibraltar in the light of the Spanish restrictions. On that subject we came to a very important agreement indeed. I have answered the question about constitutional change in reply to a previous Question.