Gibraltar (Hansard, 28 June 1978)

§ 4. Mr. van Straubenzee
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the current position of the negotiations with Spain in relation to Gibraltar.

§ Mr. Judd
My right hon. Friend had a meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in New York on 2nd June. He hopes that a start can soon be made with the proposed working groups which they agreed to set up at his meeting with Senor Oreja in Paris, at which Sir Joshua Hassan and Mr. Xiberras were present.

§ Mr. van Straubenzee
I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman. Will he confirm that the matter was raised with Senor Calvo Sotelo during the visit to the United Kingdom on a date later than his answer—namely 20th-21st June? Was it part of the conversations that took place on that occasion? Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that he would regard it as unthinkable that a country could be a member of the EEC and behave towards a neighbour as Spain is now behaving towards Gibraltar?

§ Mr. Judd
I can confirm that the matter was discussed during the meetings to which the hon. Gentleman referred. There was reference to it in only general terms as it was not the central purpose of the visit. I think that he will agree, if he does not recall this from his reading of Hansard, that he has quoted a word that I have used myself in the context of the future between Gibraltar and Spain after Spain's accession to the Community.

§ Mr. John Evans
Will my hon. Friend make it clear to the Spanish Government 1372 that we shall continue to support them in what may prove difficult negotiations regarding their application to join the Common Market? However, will he make it clear that our position would be considerably strengthened if they would regularise the position with Gibraltar and open the border?

§ Mr. Judd
I warmly agree with my hon. Friend. It would be good news if they would adjust their position to one that would be more acceptable in terms of their relationship with Gibraltar. As for our general commitment to Spanish accession to the Community, we take second place to nobody in our desire to see that speeded forward as rapidly as possible.

§ Mr. Marten
Does the Minister agree that the Government have always expressed the view that they will not link membership of the EEC and the opening of negotiations with the frontier question? Apart from that statement, the Government have never given the reasons why they will not link them. Will the Minister now do so?

§ Mr. Judd
With respect, I must disagree with the hon. Member. I recall that not long ago he put the same question to the Prime Minister, who made it clear that in his view the relationships between Spain and Gibraltar and the restrictions were totally unacceptable. He said that these difficulties should be removed as rapidly as possible and should certainly not wait on Spanish accession to the Community.