otherwise provides' and they 'will never enter into arrangements under
hich the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another
The new state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes.' constitution came into force in August 1969 and formalised arrangements for
the devolution of responsibility to Gibraltar Ministers in respect of
domestic matters. A House of Assembly of 15 elected members replaced the
Legislative Council of 11 members and the former City Council was abolished. The Governor appoints the Speaker from persons who are not members of the
House of Assembly.
6.
Following meetings between the then Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs, Dr Owen, accompanied by representatives of the
Gibraltar Government, and the Spanish Foreign Minister in Strasbourg in November 1977 and in Paris in March 1978, working groups of officials were set up to examine practical matters of mutual interest concerning Gibraltar. The groups met in London in July 1978 and in Madrid in December 1978. Social security payments for former Spanish workers in Gibraltar,
telecommunications and maritime communications were discussed.
7. The present Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Lord Carrington, met the Spanish Foreign Minister, Senor Oreja, in New York in September 1979
for a first discussion of the Gibraltar problem, at which they agreed to
consider possible ways forward, and that there should be further contacts
in the near future to continue discussions.