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British Nationality
[22 JULY 1981 ]
them a very strong point of principle. I believe that this is highlighted by a small leaflet produced in Gibraltar, which reads:
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Gibraltarians are British to the backbone. Are in the EEC with Britain. Have withstood 14 years of siege in defence of a British Gibraltar. Cannot aspire to independence. Wish to continue their 300 year old heritage of standing rock solid with Britain and must not be betrayed ".
First of all, those Gibraltarians who have read the Official Report of 28th April of Standing Committee F have been rather shocked by what was said at col. 1390. It was a statement by Mr. Richard Luce, the Under- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in answer to a question regarding international law concerning the event of Spain occupying Gibraltar and Gibraltarians deciding to leave. It concerned the question of the binding obligation of Her Majesty's Government to take them in. The Minister said:
"I certainly do not wish to state (at this stage) that we have any special obligation of that nature".
That caused considerable concern in Gibraltar among those who learnt of it.
Secondly and I think it is relevant-there is further concern in Gibraltar as to what are, or could be, economic alternatives to the support and sustenance provided by dockyard work. I am sorry that I mention this today, but it was not referred to during the debate on Monday by either of the Government spokesmen, and I think it opportune now to mention the concern that is felt in Gibraltar. It stresses the importance of the possibility of their being granted British citizenship. I am advised that the dockyard work is responsible for 60 per cent. of the economy.
One should heed this concern, because we have been told, in effect, that there has just been set up a consultative committee under the chairmanship of the Governor, General Sir William Jackson, and the committee will include representatives of the Government, the Opposition, commerce, the trade union movement, the banks, and, where appro- priate, the services.
But, on the other hand, we have the Defence White Paper (Cmnd. 8288) and what it entails for Gibraltar. I shall quote very briefly from paragraph 40:
*... consideration will be given to alternative ways of fulfilling the Government's obligation to support the economy of Gibraltar if it is decided that the dockyard work there cannot be kept up indefinitely. This consideration will be undertaken in closest consultation with the Gibraltar Government ". Regarding that statement, may I add that I have been advised by the Institution of Professional Civil Servants that during the course of their meeting with Mr. John Nott, the Secretary of State for Defence, he told them, in effect, that had consultations already taken place with the Gibraltar Government, that paragraph would have been much more strongly worded vis-à-vis Gibraltar. Furthermore, in a letter dated 26th June 1981 to their members, relating to paragraph 40 of the White Paper, the institution stated:
"The reference to Gibraltar is vague, but it is the intention to give up the dockyard subject to further discussions with the Gibraltar Government and Spain. The naval stores and depots will start to close in 1983 ".
Also Rear-Admiral Mackenzie, when speaking to trade union representatives on 25th June last in Gibraltar, said:
We expect there to be a significant reduction in the number of jobs we shall be able to offer ".
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I am sorry to have introduced a different aspect to the discussions, but this is an extra concern for the people of Gibraltar. It was mentioned to me when a delegation was over here and I thought it only right that it should be raised today. Furthermore, there has been a fall-off in tourism, and I understand, too, that the number of cruise liners and so forth is definitely not on the increase.
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I have, very sketchily, touched upon our economic obligations towards Gibraltar, and Gibraltarians' very concern for the future, for I believe that they both reinforce our moral obligation, earned over the centuries by Gibraltarians, to grant to those who so wish the possibility of registration as British citizens, Com taking into account the added fact of life that they
have cannot aspire to independence.
4.30 p.m.
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The Lord Bishop of Rochester: I intervene in the discussion on this amendment with more hesitation than usual but only because church members in the Colony of Gibraltar, and both the Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in Gibraltar, have expressed tech their deep concern about the added distress which this this matter has caused to the people of Gibraltar after their 12 years of enforced isolation from the mainland. It was unfortunate, to say the least, for it caused an unnecessary amount of concern in Gibraltar, that the news media there gave credence to a rumour that the bishops in your Lordships' House were not prepared to seek any redress for the people of Gibraltar during stro this present debate in your Lordships' Committee. I sh The Bishop of Gibraltar received a number of agitated seco telephone calls, some of them during the night; and one of my lay correspondents even suggested that the Prime Minister had canvassed the bishops in your close Lordships' House to vote against this amendment.
We on these Benches are used to being chided by one side for not speaking enough and by the other side for speaking too often. We are sometimes dis- appointed when some of your Lordships seem sur- prised at the unanimity of Anglican, Roman Catholic and Free Church opinion which we sometimes seek to reflect; and I would be less than honest if I did not add that we sometimes try hard not to be irritated when we are patronised by Ministers. But the one thing to which we are never subjected is deliberate lobbying, for we are recognised as truly independent Members of your Lordships' House-dare I say inde- pendent about bishops and cardinals as well.
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So for the sake of our friends in Gibraltar I want to say that at no time has the Prime Minister or anyone else sought to influence our vote, and I am sure my have colleagues on these Benches would want me publicly to exonerate the Government from
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I hope that this will be read and understood by those in Gibraltar who have been mislead. Having said that, I hope very much that at the eleventh hour the Govern- ment will be prepared to think again about the very Kon special case that has been made out by so many Members of your Lordships' Committee about the Colony of Gibraltar.
Lord Wade: I hope the Government may think fit to change their mind with regard to this amendment. Obviously, this is not the time to go over the ground
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