HL Deb 10 February 1970 vol 307 cc807-9

2.41 p.m.

LORD SORENSEN

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 whether the position in Gibraltar has to any extent been eased in recent weeks; whether its economy and industry is being adjusted satisfactorily to the circumstances imposed on it by the Spanish Government; to what extent tourism is progressing; and whether the programme of house-building is now meeting the pressing need of adequate accommodation for industrial and other workers.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, the only sign of easement has been the temporary restoration of telephone communications with Spain over Christmas. As noble Lords will recall, I indicated on December 8 the help which Her Majesty's Government were making available to assist the Gibraltar Government to carry out their development programme. The adjustment of the economy is necessarily a slow process but some progress is being made. Despite a recent fall in tourist figures, bookings for the summer are reported to be satisfactory. Tenders have been invited for the construction of the hostel for temporary immigrant workers and consultants are being engaged to advise on the permanent building programme.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he can give approximate figures of the number of tourists who stayed for any reasonable time in Gibraltar last year compared with previous years? Also, in regard to progress affecting employment and housing, can he say whether all this preparation for the future is taking account of the natural increase in population?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I cannot, I fear, give the figures to my noble friend about the number of tourists last year, but I will see whether I can find the information and, if I do, I will send it to him. There is a housing problem in Gibraltar, and the situation is made more difficult by the need to bring in further workers as a consequence of the Spanish withdrawal of male and female labour. The programme we have in mind is some 750 units on top of the present programme, and I hope that a start can be made on this shortly.

LORD MERRIVALE

My Lords, can the Minister say what assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to help the Gibraltar Government to provide better air communications and more reasonable fares; and whether Her Majesty's Government would consider making a further approach to the Portuguese Government with a view to having some air link between Gibraltar and Portugal?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, we have looked into the question of the air fares between this country and Gibraltar, but I fear that I cannot offer any hope in this direction at the moment. As regards the old Dakota—the "Yogi Bear", I think it was called—that flies between Gibraltar and Tangiers, I am glad to say that in April it is being replaced at long last by a Viscount, and this should certainly help the tourist trade between Gibraltar and this country.

So far as the Portuguese question is concerned, I should like to look into it and I will write to the noble Lord.