§ Q1. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister what plans he now has to visit Gibraltar.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I have no plans to do so at present, Sir.
§ Mr. MartenWhen the Prime Minister next sees the Prime Minister of Gibraltar, will he discuss with him how it was that, when Gibraltar's sovereignty vis-à-vis Spain was under discussion at the United Nations, the British Government, supported by the Opposition, suggested that a referendum should be held, yet when much the same situation arose here over the Common Market the Government refused a referendum? How it is that Her Majesty's subjects in the United Kingdom are treated less favourably than those in Gibraltar?
§ The Prime MinisterI must say that I scratched my head to think what supplementary question the hon. Gentleman had in mind, and I failed to anticipate that one. We have here a sovereign Parliament which is capable of debating these things, and of voting on them too. It was felt right that the people of Gibraltar, not having a Parliament of our kind, should have the right to express their views on adherence to Spain. The results were decisive.
§ Mr. Roy HughesDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that the people of Gibraltar are deeply grateful for the support given to them by the Government against the aggression of their Fascist neighbour? Will he give the House an assurance that this will continue to be the policy of Her Majesty's Government?
§ The Prime MinisterOur policy has been clearly stated; I said it again in Gibraltar the last time I was there, and there will be no deviation from it. I think the people of Gibraltar recognise that when the Spanish Government made their claim for Gibraltar we did not, as our predecessors did, immediately fall over ourselves to offer frigates to Spain.