HL Deb 11 May 1967 vol 282 cc1582-3

2.55 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 is the present position reached in the discussions taking place within the Council of the I.C.A.O. in Montreal over the restrictive Spanish ban on flights near Gibraltar; and bearing in mind the possible interference with established air navigation and the creation of a hazard to the safety of aircraft and passengers, what action is proposed:

  1. (a) to ensure the continuance of normal air navigation;
  2. (b) to determine the delimitation of territorial waters between Spain and Gibraltar.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, the question of the prohibited air zone declared by Spain in the vicinity of Gibraltar was, on our initiative, raised in the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation at Montreal yesterday. The British representative made clear Her Majesty's Government's view that the Spanish declaration infringes the Chicago Convention and should not be put into effect. The Council's consideration of the matter will be resumed to-day. As soon as the outcome of the discussion in Montreal is known, we shall decide what further steps may be necessary to ensure the continuance of normal air navigation.

As regards the delimitation of territorial waters between Spain and Gibraltar, this was one of the issues which we proposed to the Spaniards should be referred to the International Court of Justice. The Spanish Government rejected this proposal last December but our offer remains open.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord very much for that answer. May I ask him one supplementary question? As any ban on flying for civilian aircraft between the Spanish mainland and Gibraltar up to within 200 yards of the airfield is totally unreasonable, will Her Majesty's Government take any step which may be necessary to guarantee that B.E.A. and B.U.A. are able to carry out their normal and established approach procedures into the airfield?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, the area in question, as the noble Lord may know, is in fact in close proximity to the Gibraltar airfield, and it is about 40 miles long by 20 miles wide. So obviously the prohibition, if implemented, would affect the safety and regularity of flights of civil aircraft to and from Gibraltar. Her Majesty's Government have made it clear—and I make clear again now—that we fully intend to uphold our right to use the airfield at Gibraltar; and this means both for civil and military use.