HL Deb 03 April 1968 vol 290 cc1224-5

2.41 p.m.

LORD MERRIVALE

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

[The Question was as follows.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the outcome of the latest talks in Madrid on Gibraltar, whether they will make a statement on the proposals for constitutional changes contained in the recent Report of the Gibraltar Constitutional Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. P. J. Isola, Deputy Chief Minister.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, we are paying close attention to the Report of the Constitution Committee, but it would not be helpful for me now to make any statement about it.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that very brief Answer. Now that the Anglo-Spanish talks are over, and in view of Gibraltar's need for stability and security, would not the Minister agree that the final talks for constitutional changes should be held at the earliest opportunity; and can the noble Lord now say when these talks will take place?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I indicated when we last discussed Gibraltar that I hoped we should have the more formal constitutional discussions early in the summer. We are working very carefully on the proposals that have been put to us by the elected members from Gibraltar, and on some of our own proposals. I should not wish to hurry these forward until at least we have been able to get most of the "t's" crossed and the "i's" dotted, so that when we have a conference we can get a proper and satisfactory solution.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, as the noble Lord said, Her Majesty's Government are working on these proposals. Can he say along what guide lines they are working as to the form this new Constitution will take? May I ask him one final question regarding Part III of the Report concerning the link with Britain? Does he recognise that there is a strong and persuasive recommendation that on decolonisation the Commonwealth Immigrants Act should not apply to Gibraltar? Would he not agree that Gibraltar is a unique case, being the only Commonwealth territory which is in Europe and which is hampered by the Treaty of Utrecht?

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, we all share the noble Lord's interest in this question, but I think he is taking the question form of a supplementary a little too far. Questions are designed to elicit information.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, in regard to the guide lines to which the noble Lord first referred, perhaps he would look at what I said in our last debate, when I set them out in some detail. As to how we see the Constitution developing, I should not wish to go any further than what I have said in my original answer. In regard to the Commonwealth Immigrants Act and its application to Gibraltar, I am sure the House is well aware of the views of Her Majesty's Government. While they may not necessarily be accepted in Gibraltar, I think that they are understood and appreciated.