Mar 05 - Not Enough is Being Done by UK Government – Picardo Addresses Foreign Affairs Committee
In an abnormal meeting of the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, held in the Garrison Library this morning, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo highlighted the ‘excellent relationship’ shared between his Government and that of the UK. Answering questions from the panel, which could lead to a report on the issues being published, the Chief Minister said that results have shown that not enough is being done by the UK Government with regards to the Spain dispute, with frontier queues aas bad as ever. He spoke objectively on the matter, insisting that pedestrian queues in February had reached 90 minute waiting times.
The Committee is made up of a selection of MPs from across the UK’s political spectrum, and is appointed to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, under which Gibraltar is categorised. The panel is made up of Sir Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, Sir Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, Ann Clwyd, Labour MP for Cynon Valley, Mike Gapes, Labour MP for Ilford South, Mark Hendrick, Labour MP for Preston, Sandra Osbourne, Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, Frank Roy, Labour MP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Sir John Stanley, Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling and Rory Stewart, Conservative MP for Penrith and The Border.
This morning’s question and answer session with Fabian Picardo fits into the Committee’s ‘rolling inquiry into Overseas Territories’, following an evidence session with Minister Mark Simmonds held in December 2013.
One of the first questions put to the Chief Minister was the state of the UK’s relationship with Gibraltar. Mr. Picardo noted that he shares a very warm relationship with all members of Her Majesty’s Government and indeed the Foreign Office. He added that they were in agreement on many matters. Commenting on the Point of Consumption tax, which is one of few policies brought forward by the UK government that Gibraltar does not agree with, Mr. PIcardo insisted that Gibraltar is possibly the toughest regulator of Online Gaming, which has led to the success of its gaming industry. The proposed tax will disrupt companies operating from Gibraltar and ‘water down [our] standard of regulation’, the Chief Minister noted. Commenting further on the relationship between Her Majesty’s Government and Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar, Mr. Picardo said that Gibraltar should not be considered a Foreign Affair to the UK, there has long been a school of thought that believes it should be categorised under the Home Office.
Andrew Rosindell, Chairman for the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on the British Overseas Territories, questioned Mr. Picardo on whether he believed it was time for another visit from Her Majesty the Queen. The question was met with a resounding applause from the public gallery. Mr. Picardo responded by saying that Her Majesty would be extremely welcome in Gibraltar and does not need an invitation extended to her as she is free to visit any part of realm when she wishes.
Discussing the Foreign Office representation in Gibraltar, the Chief Minister noted that the Governor’s title was out-dated. He believes that he shares an excellent relationship with the Governor. He added that with current issues between Gibraltar and Spain the Gibraltar FCO was suffering a lack of resources in this area.
Commenting on whether Gibraltar would suffer if the UK left the European Union, Mr. Picardo stated that it would be a disaster for the peninsular. He did welcome the inclusion of the people of Gibraltar in the 2017 referendum and added that in future Gibraltar was likely to want more Europe than the UK, rather than less.
On the fishing dispute, Mr. Picardo explained that his Government was carrying out a great deal of work on the matter with the implementation of new legislations. He added that resolving the fishing dispute would not however solve the much bigger issue of incursions into BGTW by Spanish state vessels. He spoke of the increase in incursions by Guardia Civil and Spanish Navy vessels, explaining that they had recently disrupted works in the bay.
When questioned on whether the British Government’s response to this was sufficiently robust, the Chief Minister said that based on the fact that frontier queues and incursions are still occurring, ‘not enough is being done’. He was quick to note that their attitude has been more robust than previously. He said that he believed larger Navy assets in Gibraltar, not to be deployed aggressively, but just to assert their presence, would be hugely positive for Gibraltar.
Commenting on why no progress for the proposed ad-hoc talks with Spain had gone forward, Mr. Picardo said that Spain will not agree on who should be present at the inaugural meeting. He fears that a fourth representative from their side would be used as an excuse for them to claim that a quadrilateral forum had been formed. The possibility of bilateral talks between Spain and the UK was deemed ‘entirely unacceptable’ by the Chief Minister.
He thanked the committee for the opportunity to address them and give them an understanding the frustrations of the Gibraltarian people. He urged the committee to develop and publish a report on the issues, similar to former reports they produced on Gibraltar’s issues with Spain in 1999, and the bid for joint sovereignty in 2002.
The Chairmen then reiterated the recent word of the UK’s Foreign Secretary on the UK Government’s continued respect over the wishes of the people of Gibraltar.
