Gibraltar's Telecommunications Problems Put To The House of Commons

Iberia News

10 November 2000

This story is reproduced by kind permission of Iberia News at http://www.iberianews.com

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Keith Vaz, was this week questioned over the British Government's intervention in what is becoming a major telecommunications crisis in Gibraltar as Spain continues its blockade of telecoms with regards to Gibraltar.

Although Gibraltar has put into place all the necessary telecommunications directives imposed by EU laws, it is thought that true liberalisation of the telecommunications networks in Gibraltar cannot take place due to a lack of numbers to fullfill demand.

The situation is thought to have reached its peak with numbers running out by early next year.

The British Government have been warned by the EU commission that they must negotiate with Spain to solve the situation promptly or action will be taken against both countries.

Britain has insisted that they have discussed the situation with Spain, yet in recent months no progress seems to have been made.

Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) questioned Keith Vaz over the telecommunications problems at the House of Commons this week.

The following was the debate that ensued over the issue:

Keith Vaz: As we made clear in our response on 31 October to the Foreign Affairs Committee report on Gibraltar, we have stayed in close contact with the European Commission, emphasising the urgency of the situation and our expectation that the Commission will uphold Gibraltar's rights in the European Union. We have informed the Commission that we consider the complaints made by operators in Gibraltar to be well founded. In consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, we are continuing our efforts with the Spanish Government and the Commission to resolve this important issue.

Mr Hoyle: I am sure that my hon. Friend shares my concern at the fact that Spain still refuses to recognise the international code for Gibraltar and that businesses in Gibraltar are being held back by the lack of available telephone numbers. That has been highlighted recently by the failure of the Spanish Minister of Defence to telephone the Chief Minister over a visit to the submarine HMS Tireless. We are all aware of the difficulties, and I look forward to an early resolution of them.

Mr Vaz: My hon. Friend is right. I know of his great interest in these matters as a member of the Gibraltar parliamentary group and owing to his many visits to the country. The issue is important. As he knows, 30,000 telephone numbers have been allocated through the Cadiz exchange, and they will run out next year. Therefore, for the people of Gibraltar, the issue is very serious. I have discussed the matter with Chief Minister Caruana, as has my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley. I spoke yesterday afternoon to the Governor of Gibraltar. I assure my hon. Friend that we have raised the concerns with the Commission and expect it to do something positive to resolve the situation. Otherwise, my hon. Friend will not be able to ring his friends in Gibraltar and they will not be able to ring out.

Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): These soothing bromides simply will not do. What is the precise nature of the renewed efforts to which, in their response to the recent Foreign Affairs Committee report, the Government committed themselves? Did the Prime Minister raise the matter at the Anglo-Spanish talks last month? What exactly was the result?

Mr Vaz: I shall not rise to the challenge to appoint the hon. Gentleman as our special envoy to sort out the problem because it requires very careful dialogue. That dialogue has continued over the past few months. Of course the matters have been raised. The Prime Minister raises issues concerned with Gibraltar on every occasion when he meets the Spanish Prime Minister; my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has done so with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs; and I have done so. We will continue to work carefully and appropriately in order to resolve the issue. That is a better approach than that suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

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