HL Deb 23 November 1966 vol 278 cc234-5

2.47 p.m.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration is being given by the Ministry of Defence to the question of relinquishing, whilst taking into account the legitimate interests of the Services, sites in Gibraltar,

  1. (a) for residential development; and
  2. (b) so that further beach and other amenities may be provided for the development of tourism.]

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, the Ministry of Defence is in continuous touch with the Commonwealth Office and the Gibraltar authorities on the future development of the Colony. In recent years many sites have been relinquished to the Government of Gibraltar. Proposals for transfers invariably receive sympathetic consideration.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that reply, which does not carry one much further. In view of the fact that the summary of the main findings and policy recommendations of the Gibraltar Study Group, which was set up by Her Majesty's Government, were submitted on December 16 last, nearly a year ago, is it not time that Her Majesty's Government considered the implications of these recommendations, as quite a number involve consideration of military installations in Gibraltar?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Beswick would probably be better at answering this part of the question. But it is a fact that during the last three years the Services have made available about forty properties, including some on the coast, and in the situation as it exists now, I understand that if further land were made available it is doubtful whether it could be utilised for the sort of long-term purposes to which the noble Lord referred. I am sure that this shows no lack of sympathy on the part of Her Majesty's Government. I am answering the noble Lord's question in purely practical terms.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that supplementary reply. But is he aware that considerable emphasis was placed by the Study Group on the desirability of building a centre for residential and tourist use, in the Rosia Bay area in particular? I am quite sure the noble Lord will be aware that the Services have a number of installations, buildings and so forth, in that area.

LORD SHACKLETON

Yes, my Lords. I am well aware of the Rosia Bay position. In fact it is true that the Navy have essential facilities there, but when and if Rosia Bay is required for this sort of development—and I must stress it is not at the moment a practical proposition—we shall be prepared to discuss reproviding those facilities elsewhere. I assure the noble Lord that this will be sympathetically considered, but it does not arise at this moment.