§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a Statement on the proposals by the Spanish Government to increase the rights of Spanish citizens to the level of rights enjoyed by European Economic Community citizens in Gibraltar, specifying to what extent the two are currently different.
§ Sir Ian GilmourSubject only to any transitional arrangements, Spanish citizens will enjoy European Community rights in Gibraltar when Spain becomes a member of the European Community.
At present European Community nationals have six months' unrestricted right of entry, and can take work 448W without a permit. Non-European Community nationals, however, are subject to entry control and are required to obtain a work permit and residence permit. The second difference is that wheras European Community nationals may own property in Gibraltar, non-European Community nationals are not permitted to do so except through a locally-registered limited company.