HC Deb 25 July 1984 vol 64 cc970-1
3. Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Spanish Government concerning their communiqué linking Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Ray Whitney)

We have expressed our regret to the Spanish Government at the terms of the joint Spanish-Argentine communiqué which was issued on 13 June.

Mr.Young

Have not the Government rather fuelled such a statement by the difficulties of the people in Gibraltar and the Falklands in gaining British citizenship, and because we have not implemented the main recommendations of the Shackleton report or created the necessary economic climate in Gibraltar after the removal of the dockyard? Will the Minister consider that we should be talking about peoples and not land masses? Before we fall into the same folly overHong Kong, will he consider the lessons to be learnt from the two cases that I have mentioned?

Mr. Whitney

The answer to the hon. Gentleman's first question is, no, Sir. We have taken care of the citizenship requirements of both those territories. We have followed the recommendations of the Shackleton report, about which we are frequently criticised by the Opposition, in terms of constructing the airfield on the Falkland Islands. We have consistently given great support to Gibraltar, notably in the civilianisation of the dockyard.

Mr. McQuarrie

Will my hon. Friend make it perfectly clear to the Spanish Government that there is no question of the linkage of Spain and Gibraltar or the accession of Spain to the Common Market until Spain implements the Lisbon agreement in full? Can he give a firm undertaking, as given by the Prime Minister and other Foreign Ministers, that this accession will not take place until the restrictions against the people of Gibraltar are completely lifted?

Mr. Whitney

We accept that the Lisbon agreement is the basis of the way forward to resolving the differences between the United Kingdom and Spain over Gibraltar. I endorse the point made by my hon. Friend that, whilst we support Spanish accession to the Community, it would be inconceivable for Spain to join the Community while not allowing ordinary traffic to cross the frontier with Gibraltar.