§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have received from the Spanish Government on the future status of Gibraltar.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweAs foreshadowed by the Spanish Foreign Minister during our meeting in Geneva on 5 February, the Spanish Government have delivered proposals concerning the future status of Gibraltar. Whilst the details of these proposals must remain confidential at this stage, they involve suggestions for the eventual transfer of sovereignty, including a period of shared responsibility. These proposals are of course being studied against the background of our undertaking to respect the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the people of Gibraltar, enshrined in the preamble to Gibraltar's 1969 constitution.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet the Spanish Foreign Minister to discuss Spanish claims for the integration of Gibraltar with Spain at some future date.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe terms of the Brussels agreement implemented on 5 February provided for the establishment of a negotiating process aimed at overcoming all differences over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation in various fields on a mutually beneficial basis. I intend to meet the Spanish Foreign Minister in this context towards the end of this year.
In those discussions I shall have very much in mind the pledge enshrined in the Gibraltar constitution of 1969 that we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.