§ 6. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the failure of the Spanish Government to implement the Lisbon agreement, he will seek further discussions with the Spanish Foreign Minister with a view to reaching a firm date for implementation.
§ Sir Ian GilmourThe Spanish Government's commitment to the agreement has been reaffirmed and the Foreign Minister is well aware of our view that the sooner it is implemented the better for all concerned. I doubt whether there is anything to be gained by trying to initiate discussions in the way that my hon. Friend suggests.
§ Mr. McQuarrieI accept what my right hon. Friend has said, but does he agree that the period of 14 months since the Lisbon agreement was signed is absolutely ridiculous? Does he honestly believe that the Spanish Government have any intention of ever implementing the agreement unless they are forced to do so when they apply for accession to the Community in several years' time?
§ Sir Ian GilmourI certainly agree that a period of 14 months is at any rate rather long. We have conveyed to the Spanish Government our regret that the agreement has not so far been implemented and our wish and hope that it will be implemented before long. I do not accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that we shall have to wait until Spain tries to join the Community, but I fully understand his impatience.
§ Mr. Russell JohnstonWith great respect to the right hon. Gentleman, that is hardly a dynamic response. The Lisbon agreement was signed 14 months ago. How many direct representations have been made to the Spanish Government and what action does he now propose to take?
§ Sir Ian GilmourIt was not intended to be a dynamic response. I do not believe that dynamic responses are necessarily the best way to proceed in these matters. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that there have been a number of contacts with the Spanish Government, and they are continuing. The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to be specific about them, but I reiterate the Government's wish and hope that the Spanish Government will carry out the agreement that they entered into.
§ Mr. AmeryI think that most of us would wish to see a democratic Spain join NATO and the European Community, but will my right hon. Friend make it clear to the Spanish Government that we could not accept that so long as the blockade of Gibraltar continues?
§ Sir Ian GilmourI think that I have often stated in the House that the idea of two countries in the Community with a closed frontier between them is unthinkable.