§ 9. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any arrangement for further meetings with the Spanish Foreign Minister over the future of Gibraltar.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe Spanish Foreign Minister, Senor Lopez Bravo, will visit London in early May. During his visit he and I will cover a broad range of matters of mutual concern and continue our discussions on the subject of Gibraltar, about which we have agreed to work together.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Foreign Secretary appreciate that we welcome the new aid agreement signed with Gibraltar on 6th March but hope that alongside it will go a new resolve to ensure that the people of Gibraltar are allowed to decide their destiny and will not be pressurised to join the Fascist régime in Spain.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes. The hon. Gentleman need have no fear on that point, nor need anyone in the House. Written into the preamble of our Act of Parliament is the fact that the people of Gibraltar shall decide their own future..
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWithout endorsing the loose use of the word "Fascist" by the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes), may I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is not the case that Spain wishes to take her place with us in a United Europe? Is it not, therefore, quite inappropriate that Spain should have adopted a hostile attitude towards some of our fellow subjects in Gibraltar?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes. I deplore the fact that Spain's attitude towards Gibraltar is hostile. In the Spaniards' own interests they would make much more progress if they wooed the Gibraltarians.
§ Mr. Leslie HuckfieldIn view of some of the other recent somersaults in Government policy, do not the people of Gibraltar need some reassurance from time to time? What plans has the Foreign Secretary for visits by himself or other Ministers to Gibraltar to reassure the people there?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI have recently seen the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and other Ministers. I have been in Gibraltar quite recently. I see no need for reassurance whatever. They are quite content with the statement in the Act of Parliament that they should decide their future.