HC Deb 17 December 2002 vol 396 cc765-6W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under whose direction Governors of overseas territories act on(a) matters devolved to overseas legislation and (b) other matters. [87039]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Governors of overseas territories act under the direction of the Foreign Secretary. The extent to which the Foreign Secretary may instruct a Governor as to the exercise of his functions depends on the terms of the Constitution and legislation in force in each territory.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his policy is on the representation of(a) overseas territories outside Europe and (b) crown dependencies in the European Parliament; [87040]

(2) if he will make a statement on the distinction between Gibraltar and other overseas territories and the crown dependencies in respect of their European parliamentary representation. [87041]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Gibraltar is the only UK overseas territory inside the European Union. Following a 1999 European Court of Human Rights judgment, the UK is required to ensure that Gibraltarians can vote in European Parliament elections. The Government introduced the European Parliament (Representation) Bill in November 2002 in order to provide for Gibraltar's enfranchisement in time for the 2004 European Parliamentary elections.

The other overseas territories and the crown dependencies are not part of the European Union. They have their own elected governments and no direct representation in the European Parliament. Their constituents are free to raise with UK MEPs any concerns they may have with regard to EU legislation or other EU matters, and their governments are free to raise with HMG any such concerns they may have.