Government
A Legative Council was established in 1950; in 1959 the elected members assumed responsibility for various depart- ments of the administration, and the leader of the largest group in the Council was given the courtesy title of Chief Member. Under the 1964 constitution the members with responsibility for departments became known as ministers and the Chief Member as Chief Minister. After the 1967 referendum (see p 2), constitutional talks were held in 1968 at which agreement was reached on changes embodied in the Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969, which came into force on II August 1969.
X The 1969 constitution replaced the Legislative Council and the City Council, which had dealt with municipal affairs and public utilities, by a House of Assembly consis- ting of a Speaker and 15 elected and two ex officio members, and formalised the devolution to local ministers of responsi- bility for certain defined domestic affairs. The Governor, the personal representative of the Queen, retains direct responsibility for all matters not specifically allocated to ministers, especially defence, external affairs and internal security; he may intervene in the conduct of domestic affairs in support of this responsibility or in the interest of maintaining financial and economic stability. Executive authority is vested in the Governor. On domestic matters delegated to ministers he must normally act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, which comprises the Chief Minister and not less than four nor more than eight ministers, who are appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Chief Minister. In exercising his functions relating to other matters, the Governor normally acts in accordance with the advice of the Gibraltar Council (which consists of the Deputy-Governor and three other ex officio members, the Chief Minister and four other ministers appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Chief Minister).
Electoral System and Political Parties
Elections to the House of Assembly take place every four years. All British subjects over the age of 18 years resident in Gibraltar for six months prior to registration are entitled to vote. Voting for the 15 elected members of the House of Assembly is by a system of block voting under which each elector may vote for up to eight candidates.
The Gibraltar Labour Party and Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights, led by Sir Joshua Hassan, won the 1976 general election. The Democratic Party for British Gibraltar, led by Mr Maurice Xiberras, and one member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party, Mr Joe Bossano, form the opposition in the House.
Judicial System
The law of Gibraltar derives exclusively from English law. The courts of law consist of the (non-resident) Court of Appeal; the Supreme Court, presided over by the Chief Justice which has civil and criminal jurisdiction; the Court of First Instance (a civil court comparable to the County Courts in England and Wales); and the Magistrates' Court. The last also acts as a juvenile court dealing with offences committed by children and young people.
Economy
Gibraltar is small, rocky and infertile. It has no agriculture, little livestock and no mineral resources. Although fresh fruit and vegetables are imported from Portugal, Morocco and the Netherlands, Gibraltar depends on Britain and other Commonwealth countries for the bulk of its imports
of food and manufactured goods. Exports of goods of local origin are small but there is a flourishing entrepôt trade including supplies to shipping.
In 1978 the total value of imports was £39.4 million and that of exports and re-exports, £11.9 million. The value of imported foodstuffs was just over £9.6 million and that of imported manufactured goods £12.3 million.
The economy is largely dependent, particularly against the background of a closed border with Spain, on the presence of British naval and military forces and their ships, dockyards and installations, the British aid programme, the commercial needs of neighbouring countries and the tourist industry. About 60 per cent of male wage earners are employed by official employers--chiefly the British Ministry of Defence and the Gibraltar Government. The main sources of employment in the private sector are the con- struction industry, hotel and catering services, and retail distribution. A substantial number of clerical staff are employed in shipping offices and trading agencies.
In addition to a small but important commercial ship repair yard, there are a number of small industrial concerns engaged in the bottling of beer and mineral waters, and in clothing manufacture, for local needs and export.
The resident workforce is insufficient to meet Gibraltar's needs. Before the Spanish restrictions, most of the non- resident workers needed for the Gibraltar economy lived in Spain, but since then the Gibraltar Government has encouraged the employment of married women and the recruitment of workers in Britain, Portugal and particularly Morocco.
When Britain joined the European Community in 1973, the provisions of the Treaty of Rome became applicable to Gibraltar. However, at Gibraltar's request, the Community's common tariff arrangements, its Common Agricultural Policy and its value-added taxation system do not apply to Gibraltar.
Development and Development Aid
In addition to the funds raised by the Gibraltar Govern- ment, the British Government provides substantial assis- tance from its aid programme for social and economic development. From 1970 to 1978 some £15.8 million in grant form was made available for project aid and technical co-operation. The aid programme for the period 1978 to 1981 amounts to some £14 million and is largely for housing, education, public health and port development.
Communications
There are some 13 kilometres (8 miles) of roads in the town, 113 kilometres (7 miles) in the South District and 9.6 kilometres (6 miles) in the area of North Front and Catalan Bay. There are no railways.
The airport at North Front is controlled and maintained by the Royal Air Force (RAF) but is used by civil aircraft under an agreement between the RAF and Gibraltar Airways. British Airways and its associate company, Gibraltar Airways, operate scheduled services into the airport.
The commercial harbour is situated on the west coast and has a water area of 2 square kilometres (three-quarters of a square mile) enclosed by moles (breakwaters). Passenger and car ferry services operate between Gibraltar and Tangier, six times a week in summer and five times a week in winter; there are also three hydrofoil services each week.
Public Utilities
Public supplies of water and electricity are provided by the Gibraltar Government. Water is supplied from rainfall catchment and storage, sea-water distillation, wells and imports by tanker. Brackish well-water mixed with sea water is used for fire-fighting, road watering and sanitation. The public telephone service is owned by the Government and external telecommunications are provided by Cable and Wireless Ltd, and the Spanish National Telephone Company.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.