HC Deb 21 March 1983 vol 39 cc534-5
40. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the total official development assistance to be made available for development in Gibraltar during the present financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

I expect that total development assistance to Gibraltar in the present financial year will be about £2 million. This includes initial expenditure on projects being financed from the £13 million development aid grant which was agreed last year.

Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

In view of the uncertainties about the implementation of the Lisbon agreement and the importance of Gibraltar having a viable economy without overdependence on Spain, will the Minister develop and publish a development plan for the economy dealing particularly with land use? Is it not a public disgrace that the admiral commanding the dockyard occupies a garden of some 3.5 hectares of developable land and that Rosia bay, probably the principal development site on the island, is used for a civil servants' swimming club? Will he look into these matters?

Mr. Raison

I shall consider, but with some scepticism, the point made by the hon. Gentleman in the last part of his question. Overall we have allocated a reasonable sum for the development of Gibraltar. I believe that it should do the job effectively.

Mr. McQuarrie

I hope that my right hon. Friend will agree that the comments made by the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler) about the garden and Rosia bay show his utter ignorance of what is happening in Gibraltar. We want the economy of Gibraltar—

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must ask a question.

Mr. McQuarrie

Does my right hon. Friend agree that £13 million is inadequate for the future economy of Gibraltar and that it is high time we had a decision on whether the naval dockyard is to be commercialised?

Mr. Raison

As I have already said, I believe that we have allocated a reasonable sum for development which will do the job. The commercialisation of the dockyard is complicated and should be considered carefully. I hope that before too long we shall be able to announce our conclusions.

Mr. Sever

Does the Minister agree that the most effective way to help Gibraltar, and any other country seeking development aid, is for the Government to authorise immediate expenditure of 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product to cope with the schemes mentioned by hon. Members? Does he accept that money being spent on aid programmes would be better directed to the poorest countries and that it cannot be argued that Gibraltar is one?

Mr. Raison

I believe that the hon. Gentleman is straying a long way from this question.