HC Deb 02 July 1987 vol 118 c124W
Sir Fergus Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State For Transport why the European Community Council of Transport Ministers on 30 June failed to agree an aviation package.

Mr. Channon

When the Transport Council met on 30 June it was not able to adopt a package liberalising air transport in the Community because Spain refused to allow the package to apply to Gibraltar. I was not prepared to compromise Gibraltar's legitimate rights in this way. Despite the fact that every other member state supported the package, the Spanish Government blocked it when they found they could not secure Gibraltar's exclusion.