Gibraltar (Hansard, 8 January 2002)

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government will be responsible for(a) overseeing and (b) drafting the terms of a referendum of the people of Gibraltar on a change in sovereignty. [R] [24511]

§ Peter Hain
I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 December 2001,official Report,column 853W.
Since any change to the Gibraltar constitution could trigger primary legislation in the UK, Her Majesty's Government would, in consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, expect to oversee the organisation and timing of any referendum of the people of Gibraltar on a change in sovereignty, and to propose and endorse the terms of any such referendum.

§ Mr. Luff
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in the sovereignty of Gibraltar. [23005]

§ Peter Hain
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 187W.
584W

§ Dr. Stoate
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent briefings have taken place with theFinancial Times over the future of Gibraltar. [24978]

§ Peter Hain
There have been no recent briefings with theFinancial Times over the future of Gibraltar.

§ Dr. Stoate
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place about using the model for Andorra as a model for joint sovereignty of Gibraltar. [24977]

§ Peter Hain
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 187W. A copy of the joint press communiqué issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs when they met under the Brussels Process in Barcelona on 20 November has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Ministers discussed the full range of issues set out in the November 1984 Brussels Communiqué Their discussions did not include the Andorra model.