Lord Hannay of Chiswick (CB)

My Lords, I welcome the Government’s Statement very warmly, and I declare an interest: I was involved, as a senior official in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in getting the Franco-imposed controls on the borders, which did such damage to Gibraltar, lifted well before Spain joined the European Union. I was rather surprised, as was the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, that the noble Lord, Lord Callanan, mentioned one vote—it is quite correct to do so—which was the vote of the Gibraltarians to remain part of Britain, but he did not mention the other vote: the huge 90% vote by which they voted to stay in the European Union. That, of course, was quite correctly overridden by the wider vote in this country, but it cast Gibraltar into nine years of uncertainty, anxiety and worry that things would not work out. An apology is due there from all those who were responsible for that action. I will ask two questions. First, is it the case that, with luck and a bit of hope, this agreement will also facilitate the Government’s process of resetting the agreements we have with the European Union, in particular the one dealing with the security compact, which we hope will now go ahead at full speed? Secondly, will the noble Baroness perhaps convey to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar the very warm words from these Benches and others in this House about the remarkable patience and perseverance with which he pursued what is, in my view, an extremely valuable agreement for the Gibraltarians themselves? It would be right that he should hear words of praise from those of us who have contributed less than he has to this process.