HL Deb 17 February 1988 vol 493 cc649-51

2.45 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether as a result of recent discussions the Spanish Government have withdrawn their restrictions on the use of Spanish airspace by British military aircraft arriving at and departing from Gibraltar Airport.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, no. My right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport, at their meeting with their Spanish opposite numbers in London on 2nd December, again pressed for the restrictions to be withdrawn. We regret that the Spanish Government were not able to agree to this.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Will he add to it by telling the House how the Spanish Government have sought to reconcile this restriction on the use of Gibraltar Airport with their desire to share in its operation?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, the restrictions apply to military aircraft, not to civil aircraft. The Spaniards argue that the restrictions are necessary for reasons of national security.

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, are we not supposed to be on the same side in NATO?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, we certainly are. My noble and learned friend is quite right. We agree that there should be no restrictions of this kind between two NATO allies. We shall therefore continue to press Spain to lift them.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, will the noble Lord clarify the position further and say whether the Government of Gibraltar support the agreement which was reached and whether the Gibraltar Parliament has ratified it?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I think that we are talking about two separate issues. This one is specifically concerned with the Spanish prohibited airspace and its use by military aircraft. Other developments on the airport are another matter. If the noble Lord would like me to pursue it, I shall.

Lord Kilmarnock

My Lords, the two matters are surely connected. Will the noble Lord say whether the restriction on the use of military aircraft will have any effect on the arrangement for joint civilian use of the airport?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, it does not have any effect on civilian aircraft other than civilian aircraft on charter to the Ministry of Defence. The agreements about the airport are reached on the basis of consultation on the future development of civil aviation more widely and within Europe. The specific problem relates to the use of Spanish prohibited airspace by military aircraft.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, with great respect, my question about ratification by the Gibraltar Parliament and the agreement of the Gibraltar Government is very relevant to the general use of the airport whether for civilian or military purposes. I recognise that there has been no agreement on the military side but can the noble Lord say whether the Government of Gibraltar agree with the agreement that has been made and whether the Gibraltar Parliament is likely to ratify it?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am sorry if I misunderstood the noble Lord. The two issues are different but it is for the people of Gibraltar to make a democratic choice on the airport agreement. We have made it clear that we do not intend to impose it on them against their wishes. The Spanish Government have made it clear that they will not begin building a new terminal until the Gibraltar House of Assembly has acted.

Lord Kilmarnock

My Lords, if a satisfactory agreement on civilian use is reached and it is approved by the Gibraltar Parliament, is there any prospect of lengthening the runway?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, there may be grave difficulties about that because of the geographical constraints that exist there.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, is there not a connection between the two matters inasmuch as the Spanish attitude on the use of Spanish airspace for military aircraft into Gibraltar Airport must induce a mood of suspicion in the Gibraltar Government and people which could well bear on their decision?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, that is certainly a view. I very much hope that it will be possible in due course to persuade the Spaniards to lift the particular difficulty concerning use of Spanish prohibited airspace. I agree with my noble friend that it is possible that there can be a read-across from one issue to the other, but I hope that the former will be resolved.