HL Deb 10 May 1982 vol 430 cc3-4

2.41 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 on what date Spain will become a full member of NATO; and whether they will stress to our NATO allies that the strategic value of Gibraltar is of primary importance to this country and that the future of a British Gibraltar, as a strategic component in NATO defence, is of concern to all NATO nations.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, Spain will become a member of NATO when ratification of the protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty has been completed by all existing member countries. Her Majesty's Government hope that this process will be completed within the next few weeks. I can assure my noble friend that the strategic importance of Gibraltar to the alliance, and to Britain as a member of the alliance, will be taken fully into account in discussions within the alliance after Spain's entry to NATO and in the negotiations with Spain on Gibraltar envisaged by the Lisbon agreement.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for that Answer. In view of Gibraltar's strategic position, recognised by Her Majesty's Government, will Her Majesty's Government raise with NATO, either inside that organisation or in bilateral discussions with NATO members, the issue of full naval facilities—a naval base and a modernised dockyard—still being of considerable value to Britain and to its NATO allies?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, so far as the proposed closure of the naval dockyard is concerned, I replied to a Question which my noble friend put to me on this matter about a week ago. I do not think that I really have anything to add to what I said on that occasion, which was to the effect that the Government felt that the decision must stand, but that within that context we would be as flexible and helpful as possible so far as the interests of Gibraltar are concerned.

Lord Peart

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether the Government still intend to close the naval dockyard in Gibraltar, and whether they will take into account the role played by the dockyard in converting the "Uganda" to enable it to join the Falklands fleet?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I repeat that the decision to close the naval dockyard will stand, but, of course, as the noble Lord, Lord Peart, will know, the Government, with the Government of Gibraltar, are actively pursuing what opportunities there could be for the dockyard to be run commercially.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware of the fact (I am sure he is) that during the course of an adjournment debate on 1st April in the Canadian House of Commons the question of the future of Gibraltar within NATO arose? May I ask him, therefore, whether this question could be raised, either bilaterally or with the allies, by Her Majesty's Government, as the Canadian Government felt it was not a matter for them?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I was not aware that this had been discussed in the Canadian Parliament. I agree with my noble friend that the position of Gibraltar is important within the NATO alliance, but I do not think there is anything else I can add at the moment about the position as to the naval dockyard.