HL Deb 11 October 1994 vol 557 cc814-5

3.6 p.m.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Spanish Government have now withdrawn their refusal to allow the resumption of ferry services between Algeciras and Gibraltar.

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I regret to say that the answer is no.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, will my noble friend say whether the Spanish Government have seen fit to give any explanation of their attitude and performance in this matter, or do they merely leave us to draw the conclusion that their policy is one simply to show spite and hostility towards Gibraltar?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I have first to congratulate my noble friends Lord Boyd-Carpenter and Lord Merrivale on having been so persistent in their questioning on this difficult situation over the past four years, if not more. The Spanish have continued to tell us that there can be no resumption of the Algeciras ferry service until the dispute over the airport agreement is resolved. We have never accepted that argument. We regard it as spurious, and we do not accept it. We believe that the Spanish ban, preventing the renewal of the ferry service, runs counter to the spirit of the European Union. The matter was drawn to the Commission's attention in 1991, but the Commission informed us that the Spaniards are not acting contrary to EC law. We regret that there appear to be no avenues open to us other than determined persuasion.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, bearing in mind that the Government are doing their best to try to get the Spaniards to change their mind, will the noble Earl now give the House an assurance that we will seek with other nations who also think that the Spaniards are behaving in an appalling manner, particularly in this instance, to continue efforts to get them to see reason and to be more helpful in an international way?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, we have obviously to be careful in seeking the agreement of other nations from their standing and perspective of this situation, but we are always open to suggestions that may help the resumption of the ferry services because we fully appreciate and understand the disadvantage that the situation causes to those trying to cross between Gibraltar and Algeciras.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, will the noble Earl inform the House whether the European Commission has given the Government any reason for the stand that it is taking in this matter? If the stand that it is taking is not agreeable to Her Majesty's Government, will Her Majesty's Government seek to make further representations, possibly in terms less polite than they have done hitherto?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I understand and appreciate the frustration felt by the noble Lord. However, I assure him that we are doing everything that we believe we can do. Equally, I can assure him that we are determined to continue to do as much as we can to the point of exhortation to see that this service is resumed.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, will the noble Lord consider sending the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, to the Commission?

Noble Lords

Hear, hear!

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I can think of no finer Member to send.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, perhaps I may follow the question asked by my noble friend Lord Bruce. It is three years since the Government last made representations on this matter to the European Commission. Would it not now be timely to raise the subject again? Will the Minister say what progress has been made in updating the airport agreement and whether updating that agreement will help in resolving this long-standing dispute?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, we always keep a careful eye on exhorting the situation to be resolved. As regards whether it is appropriate to raise the matter at this time, I shall pass that on to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. I suspect that we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the resumption of this ferry service.

As regards the airport negotiations, the Gibraltar Government have stated that they will not agree to implement the agreement since they remain concerned that the implementation of the airport agreement has implications of sovereignty. That again, we say, is a spurious argument.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that we are also discussing this matter directly with the Spanish Government, with whom we have the closest possible long-standing relations?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, under the Brussels agreement we continue to discuss this matter regularly with the Spanish Government.