HC Deb 09 November 1983 vol 48 cc289-90
4. Sir William van Straubenzee

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his conversations with the Spanish Foreign Minister on the subject of Gibraltar in New York on 26 September.

Mr. Whitney

Both at this meeting and at a previous meeting in Madrid on 6 September each side explained its position on Gibraltar. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and Senor Moran agreed to maintain contact through diplomatic channels, and to aim for a further meeting in early December, when they both expect to attend the North Atlantic Council in Brussels. The British Government wish to see the earliest possible normalisation of relations between Gibraltar and Spain. We believe that the 1980 Lisbon agreement is the best way to achieve this, and we remain ready to implement it.

Sir William van Straubenzee

Based on the Lisbon agreement, and as a result of the two conversations mentioned by my hon. Friend, does he see any prospect of a little further progress in bringing normality to the border, consistent always with the firm intention that nothing will be imposed upon the Gibraltarians that is contrary to their wishes?

Mr. Whitney

As my hon. Friend recognises, we do not intend to do anything against the wishes of the Gibraltarians. We regret the continued delay, but we hope to eliminate the obstacles to progress and the implementation of the Lisbon agreement.

Mr. McQuarrie

When my right hon. and learned Friend met the Spanish Foreign Minister on the previous occasion, did he discuss the proposal by the Spanish Government to complete the dockyard at La Linea de la Concepcion in the bay of Gibraltar? If so, did he tell the Foreign Minister that that would have a devastating effect on the proposed commercialisation of the dockyard in Gibraltar?

Mr. Whitney

I hope that my hon. Friend will accept that such discussions between my right hon. and learned Friend and Senor Moran must remain confidential. The Government and the management of the company in charge of the Gibraltar project are aware of the La Linea proposal, but it does not affect the appraisal of the dockyard's commercial viability.