§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of the serious loss to the economy likely to result from the cancellation of flights to Gibraltar by three travel agencies, on account of the aircraft restrictions about to be imposed by the Spanish Government; and what steps he intends to take to secure that these restrictions are not made.
§ Mrs. HartI understand that many of the tourists in question would only have been in transit through Gibraltar on their way to Spain, and that the cancellations were due to transport difficulties within Spain rather than to the proposed Spanish prohibited area near Gibraltar.
As to the second part of the Question, talks with the Spanish Government about the restrictions on flying are expected to start on the 5th June. Failing a satisfactory outcome we shall report a dispute to 39W the Council of I.C.A.O. under Article 84 of the Chicago Convention. Meanwhile civil and military flights at Gibraltar are continuing.