§ Lord Merrivaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider the 1987 Gibraltar Airport Agreement more restrictive than the EC Air Liberalisation Measures culminating in the Council Directive 2408/92 concerning access to routes within the Community; and, if so, should the Agreement not now be considered as obsolete or due for renegotiation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The United Kingdom Government remains committed to the 1987 Gibraltar Airport Agreement, which we believe represents the best means of securing the much needed economic development of the airport. However, some details of the 1987 Agreement need to be updated to take account of the liberalisation of air transport in the Community. This is being pursued at a technical level.