HL Deb 31 January 1983 vol 438 cc672-4WA
Lord Merrivale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will look at the Blands Scheme for a multi-use development of Her Majesty's Dockyard in Gibraltar in greater depth than they would appear to have done so far, bearing in mind that—

  1. (a) the Gibraltar Government did not (seek commercialisation;
  2. (b) the Leader of the Opposition in Gibralta in his New Year's Message asked for such an investigation;
  3. (c) in the longer term these proposals could assist Gibralta in becoming increasingly self-supporting, and
  4. (d) a major local organisation of long standing is better able to understand and deal with the demands and needs of the local trade unions.

Lord Belstead

The Blands proposals, along with 7 others, were considered in detail by consultants appointed to advise the Government of Gibraltar. The consultants concluded that the Blands proposals did not meet the requirements for an enterprise to take the place of the naval dockyard to the same extent as those put forward by A & P Appledore International Limited, whom they recommend as the preferred potential commercial operator. The Gibraltar Government and Her Majesty's Government have agreed to take discussions forward on the basis of this advice.