§ 73. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to obtain clarification of the Castiella proposals, details of which have been sent to him, in so far as they propose that Gibraltarians should be offered a new constitution to be guaranteed by an Anglo-Spanish agreement safeguarding fundamental rights and liberties and to ascertain the extent to which the inhabitants of Gibraltar would be free as a British community, with acknowledged rights in Gibraltar to continue to foster links with the United Kingdom through recourse to British judicial, administrative and economic services.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe House will recall that when my hon. Friend the 321W Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs announced the referendum for Gibraltar in the House on 14th June, she made clear that Her Majesty's Government are ready to give the Spanish Government facilities to explain to the people of Gibraltar their proposals made on 18th May, 1966. This offer is still open, although the Spanish Government are so far unwilling to take it up.—[Vol. 748, c. 563–6.]
§ 74. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to treat the problem of Gibraltar as relevant in the practical development of Anglo-Spanish trade and other relations, rather than continuing to treat it as an isolated problem.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe problem of Gibraltar cannot be isolated from other aspects of Anglo-Spanish relations. But it has not so far had a significant effect on the development of trade.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the event of Gibraltar opting in favour of retaining its links with the United Kingdom, whether he still intends to reopen talks with Spain as soon as the occasion permits.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have nothing to add to the statement made on 14th June by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs.—[Vol. 748, c. 563–6.]