§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what arrangements have been made in the forthcoming European elections for the people of Gibraltar to be represented in the European Parliament.
(2) if he will make a statement on the electoral representation of the people of Gibraltar in the European Community.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAnnexe II of the EC Act on direct elections of 1976 limits to the United Kingdom itself the franchise for elections to the European Parliament. It follows that Gibraltar will not be formally represented in the new European Parliament.
§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence and the Government of Gibraltar on the effect of proposed cuts in military and defence personnel in Gibraltar.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThere are frequent and close consultations at ministerial and official levels with the MOD and the Government of Gibraltar. We are conscious of Gibraltar's economic difficulties and of the need to develop alternatives to the MOD presence. We have therefore established a joint economic forum with a remit to explore the possibilities. It met for the first time on 15 March, and included FCO, MOD and Government of Gibraltar representatives.