§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he gave the Chief Minister of Gibraltar during his telephone conversation on 14 December about the administration and stewardship of the colony by the local administration.
§ Mr. GoodladMy hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office made clear to the Chief Minister our concern at the contents of a report inThe Independent that day.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations led him to telephone the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 14 December; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladMy hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office made clear to the Chief Minister our concern at the contents of a report inThe Independent that day.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to ensure that the spirit and letter of the European Union treaties are applied to Gibraltar and its people; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations Her Majesty Government have made, and when, to the European Commission or other 1160W European Union agency, about the interpretation of the European treaties by Spain in respect of Gibraltar and its people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladWe expect Gibraltar to be accorded those rights to which it is entitled by virtue of its status within the European Union. We have made this clear to other member states whenever necessary, for example over the application of the draft external frontiers convention to Gibraltar.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with Government of Gibraltar regarding the future of the constitution of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Chief Minister told us in 1992 that he would like to see a new constitution. We have listened to his concerns.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with whom responsibility lies for the control of the police in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Governor of Gibraltar.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the differences between the rights of European citizenship of the people of Gibraltar and of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe people of Gibraltar enjoy rights commensurate with the special status negotiated for Gibraltar within the European Community at the time of United Kingdom accession and in subsequent legislation.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his time scale for resolving the problem of delays at the Spanish-Gibraltar frontier imposed by the Spanish authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe secondary checks at the Spanish-Gibraltarian frontier which were the cause of recent unprecedented delays have been lifted. We wish to see all disproportionate checks at this frontier ended permanently.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) with whom responsibility lies for detecting and combating the illegal importation of drugs in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the standards of conduct and stewardship needed by authorities or agencies subordinate to the Gibraltar Government to combat the illegal importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make a statement on the conduct and stewardship of customs control carried out by the Gibraltar Government.
§ Mr. GoodladResponsibility rests with the Gibraltar police and customs authorities. We have assisted them through the provision of equipment, including two fast patrol launches. Over the past year, just under 2 tonnes of drugs have been seized and over 490 drugs-related arrests made.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are Her Majesty's Government's responsibilities for money laundering in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement;
1161W(2) if he will make a statement on the standards of conduct and stewardship of the Government of Gibraltar in respect of their fulfilment of their responsibilities in respect of combating money laundering; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladWe have responsibility for good government in Gibraltar and for Gibraltar's implementation of relevant EC law on money laundering. Money laundering is a criminal offence in Gibraltar. We have furthermore received assurances from the Government of Gibraltar that Gibraltar is in the process of implementing the EC money laundering directive.