§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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, following the recent visit, to this country, of the Governor and Chief Minister of Gibraltar, whether their discussions with British Ministers included the question of financial assistance (that is to say, towards standard grants) for the improvement of those Gibraltarian households which are sub-standard, having regard to the territory's needs and resources and the assurance to extend aid beyond 1975 provided the need continues.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, this particular subject did not arise in these discussions. The announcement at the end of the talks made it clear that Her Majesty's Government would make available expert advice to help in the preparation of Gibraltar's development programme beyond 1975–76. If the Gibraltar Government so require, advice on housing will be available.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. May I ask whether he is prepared to go further than just advice on housing, and is he aware that, according to the September, 1970, Census, there were 6,241 Gibraltarian households, of which 2,029 had no bath or shower? Therefore, they were sub-standard. So will my noble friend agree that it would be to the benefit of Gibraltar as a whole if standard grants, along the lines of the 270 provisions of the Housing Act 1969, were introduced there? Finally, if the Gibraltar Government made a request along these lines, would Her Majesty's Government give very favourable consideration to it?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I know of my noble friend's great interest in these matters, and I am aware of the housing position as he has described it in Gibraltar. His suggestion of using standard grants is of course, if I may say so, one of many schemes which might be used to effect in Gibraltar, and I can assure my noble friend that if the Gibraltar Government seek our advice on this matter, and indeed wish to go further than that, then of course Her Majesty's Government will give the position every consideration.
VISCOUNT MONCKMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that to-day is the birthday of the noble Earl the Leader of the House? Although this matter may be slightly wide of the original Question, will he agree to convey to the noble Earl, in his absence, our very best wishes for very many happy returns of the day?