§ 57. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the agreement reached between Her Majesty's Government and the Spanish Government on 27 November on the 523W removal of all restrictions at present in existence between Gibraltar and Spain, the restrictions will be lifted progressively in the near future or will all be removed on 15 February 1985.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweOur agreement with the Spanish Government announced on 27 November envisages the establishment of the free movement of persons, vehicles and goods between Gibraltar and the neighbouring territory not later than February 1985. This does not rule out action before that date.
§ 70. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations he has been having with the Spanish Foreign Minister as to Gibraltar.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 28 November.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Spanish building contractors will be permitted to compete for work in Gibraltar using their own labour and equipment as a result of the Brussels agreement.
§ Mr. RentonUnder the Brussels agreement, Spanish labour working for an employer would remain subject to prior national authorisation; that is, the Gibraltar work permit regime. Subject to the terms of proposals to be introduced in the Legislature of Gibraltar, self-employed Spanish contractors would be entitled to compete for work in Gibraltar on the same basis as other European Community nationals.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the right of residence being granted to Spanish nationals under the Brussels agreement will qualify them for the right to apply for inclusion on the Government housing waiting list.
§ Mr. RentonThe allocation of Government housing in Gibraltar is a matter for the Gibraltar Government under the housing allocations scheme.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Moroccan nationals made redundant by the naval dockyard will have priority of employment over Spanish nationals in the commercial dockyard.
§ Mr. RentonThe selection of employees in the commercial dockyard is a matter for judgment by the employers.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Spain will permit the reintroduction of a Gibraltar — Madrid flight on the lifting of restrictions.
§ Mr. RentonThe question of air services between Spain and Gibraltar is governed by the 1950 air services agreement between the United Kingdom and Spain. Aviation will, of course, also be among the matters discussed in the negotiations envisaged by the Lisbon declaration.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign amd Commonwealth Affairs whether there will be a ferry service between Gibraltar and Algeciras on the lifting of restrictions
§ Mr. RentonThe Lisbon declaration envisages the re-establishment of direct communications in the region of524W Gibraltar. The nature of the services to provide such communication will be a matter for the commercial operators concerned.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign amd Commonwealth Affairs whether Spain has indicated that it expects to obtain landing rights at Gibraltar for Iberia Airlines as a result of the Brussels agreement.
§ Mr. RentonWe have received no communication on this subject from the Spanish Government.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign amd Commonwealth Affairs whether Spanish nationals will be free to use Gibraltar medical services on the same terms as visiting European Economic Community nationals.
§ Mr. RentonOn implememtation of the Lisbon declaration, emergency medical assistance would be provided in Gibraltar to visiting Spaniards as to visiting European Community nationals.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign amd Commonwealth Affairs whether persons providing cross-frontier services will be liable to income tax in Gibraltar if they are paid for their services in Spain.
§ Mr. RentonThe tax system in Gibraltar is a matter for the Gibraltar Government. The rules for the charging of tax when two countries are involved are often complex, and only the authorities concerned could express a view.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign amd Commonwealth Affairs if Spanish nationals in employment in Gibraltar will be able to claim family allowances in respect of dependent children living in Spain on the implementation of the Brussels agreement; and if the same rights will be granted to Moroccan nationals at the same time.
§ Mr. RentonThe question of the payment of family allowances to Spanish nationals employed in Gibraltar remains subject to the proposals for legislation to be introduced into the Gibraltar Legislature on the advance implementation of the European Community rights in accordance with the Brussels agreement. In principle, Spanish nationals employed in Gibraltar would not be entitled to claim family allowances for children who are not resident with them in Gibraltar. The position of Moroccan nationals will be unchanged.