§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Home Office about fulfilling the commitment to extend the European Parliament franchise to Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [153458]
§ Mr. Vazholding answer 13 March 2001]: We are in regular contact with Home Office Ministers and officials on this issue. As I said in my evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 7 March, HMG unequivocally accept their obligation to secure the European parliamentary franchise for Gibraltar. We are carefully considering all possible options for achieving this objective before the 2004 EP elections.