§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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 whether they will initiate discussions with the Gibraltar Government, concerning manpower, materials (standard amenities), a financial contribution ("along the lines of the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Housing Act 1969), with a view to easing the situation regarding sub-standard Gibraltarian households, as outlined in the Census held in September, 1970.
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE(LORD GORONWY-OBERTS)My Lords, following the Aid Talks, to which the noble Lord referred in his last Question on this matter on April 4, 1973, Her Majesty's Government made available the services of the Commonwealth Housing Corporation to advise the Gibraltar Government on Housing. We hope to have talks with the Gibraltar Government later this year on their next development programme. This will provide an opportunity for them to raise the subject of improvement grants, if they wish.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for what is, to some extent, an assurance. But does he feel that Her Majesty's Government could take the initiative to a greater degree? Will he agree that in the list of defined domestic matters—in particular, under the heading of housing—there is no reference to financial assis- 1410 tance towards the cost of improvements and conversions, which are covered in Part I of the Housing Act? Would not the Minister agree that possibly, as there are certain defined domestic matters which overlap, Her Majesty's Government could take some degree of initiative with a view to assisting the Gibraltar Government to ease the problem, as approximately one-third of the houses in Gibraltar are of sub-standard condition?
§ LORD GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, constitutionally the Gibraltar Government have full self-government in internal matters, of which housing is one. I do not think it would be appropriate for us to take an initiative in regard to internal policy, but we hold ourselves ready at all times to discuss with them any way in which we might be of even greater assistance—for instance, in housing—than we already are.