HL Deb 26 March 1991 vol 527 cc952-3

3.4 p.m.

Lord Merrivale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the European Commission's reply of 29th May 1990, what active measures they have taken since October 1990 to facilitate the introduction of the Algeciras to Gibraltar ferry service.

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the EC Transport Commissioner, Mr. Van Miert, on 20th March.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that Answer. Does the Minister agree that it has been many months since any action was taken? I last raised this question five months ago and it has taken five months, in effect, for this letter to be sent to the Transport Commissioner. When does my noble friend expect to receive a reply? Does he expect it to be different from the reply given earlier by the Director General for Transport?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I do not know when we shall get a reply and I cannot speculate on the answer. I certainly refute my noble friend's first point. A considerable amount of work has gone into this fairly complex and wide-ranging area. It has been discussed with Spain by officials on a number of occasions.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Merrivale, has just said, this matter was dealt with by the House last October. On that occasion the noble Lord, Lord Reay, on behalf of the noble Earl, said that several options were open to the Government to pursue. Can the noble Earl tell the House how many of those avenues have been explored and whether there have been discussions on the matter with the Spanish Government?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, there have been discussions with the Spanish Government. There was a meeting with officials in October of last year. It was raised in the margins of a meeting with officials on 22nd January this year. It was not, because of time, raised at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on 12th February; but there are regular discussions. We have also been discussing it within the Government and that has resulted in the letter sent by my right honourable friend.