asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation with regard to delays at La Linea for persons wishing to enter Spain from Gibraltar.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what reply the Spanish Government have made to representations about the restrictions placed on the border between Gibraltar and Spain.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations have been made by the Spanish Government on the future of Gibraltar; and what was the nature of his reply.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received assurances from the Spanish Government of a return to normal conditions at the Gibraltar frontier; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Spanish Government about delays to travellers on the Gibraltar-Spanish frontier; and whether he will make a statement.

Conditions on the Gibraltar-Spanish frontier remain as described to the House by my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary on 26th November. Since the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Mr. George Jeger) on 30th November, further representations on this matter have been made to the Spanish Government, whose answer is awaited. As the Colonial Secretary made clear in his statement, we desire good relations with Spain. However, our relations cannot but be affected by the further continuation of restrictions on the Gibraltar frontier.

How far is this affecting the position of Spaniards who earn their livelihood in Gibraltar? When does the hon. Gentleman expect to get a further official reply from the Spanish Government?

We all hope that this matter can be brought to a speedy conclusion. I assure the House that we have left the Spanish Government in no doubt of the gravity with which we regard the situation. I hope that we shall shortly be able to make a favourable announcement to the House.

Would my hon. Friend consider reimposing visa restrictions between Britain and Spain, particularly during the forthcoming holiday season, and perhaps instituting a six months' delay in the examination of each application for a visa?

It would be inappropriate for me to announce any such measures today.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that the questions that have been put and the answers he has given confirm the justice of Her Majesty's Government's position in refusing frigates for the Spanish Navy?