Nov 20 - House Of Commons Question: Foreign Office Minister Says Dispute To Be Resolved Via Diplomatic Means, Not Naval Confrontations
This week’s Spanish incursions and excessive frontier delays were the subject of numerous questions posed by MPs this lunchtime in the House of Commons.
Bob Neill, a Conservative MP, tabled an urgent question on recent developments and the UK Government’s response to repeated illegal actions in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Foreign Office Minster Mark Simmonds said that the United Kingdom stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the government and people of Gibraltar and would do whatever was necessary to defend British sovereignty over the Rock and its waters, in effect repeating the statement released yesterday by his ministry.
Mr Simmonds, in response to other questions from MPs, said that now was the time to “de-escalate” the situation and work towards establishing ad hoc talks. Replying to calls for real action from the Royal Navy, Mr Simmonds stressed that all current disputes would be resolved via “diplomatic means” and not Naval confrontations. He repeated the Foreign Office’s line that although incursions are a violation of sovereignty, they do not represent a “threat” to sovereignty.
Peter Hain, the Labour MP and former Minister for Europe, once again urged the UK Government to reconsider a joint sovereignty agreement in a bid to resolve the problem.
Among other notable contributions were those by David TC Davies, a Conservative MP, who suggested a special slow-moving queue for Spanish tourists arriving at Heathrow, a comment by Robert Halfon (Conservative) who said of the Spanish ambassador that he ought to be “sent packing” and a mention by Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative) of the GFA’s UEFA debut success last night in Faro.
