§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Spain's joining of NATO's integrated military structure has created impediments to the use of Gibraltar by NATO naval, military and air forces. [78969]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonNo impediments in the use of Gibraltar by NATO forces have been created by Spain's joining NATO's Integrated Military Structure.
§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the restrictions in the movements of(a) NATO ships and (b) NATO aircraft that were being applied by Spain at the point when Spain joined NATO' s integrated military structure; and whether any of those restrictions have now been lifted; [78970]
(2) if he will list the restrictions in the movements of (a) Royal Navy ships and (b) RAF aircraft that were being applied by Spain at the point when Spain joined NATO's integrated military structure; and whether any of those restrictions have now been lifted. [78971]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonSpain maintains restrictions on all NATO military aviation movements into and out of Gibraltar, including a ban on military overflights and an air exclusion zone to the North and West of Gibraltar. By means of reservations footnoted to the relevant NATO Standing Agreement, Spain restricts access of UK and other NATO warships to Gibraltar. Discussions in June 1998 between FCO/Spanish MFA officials led to agreement on the lifting of some of the restrictions, air diversions in an emergency and the use of Gibraltar-based assets in NATO exercises.