Gibraltar
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, I very much support what the noble Lord has just said. I am also a member of the Anglo-Gibraltar group, and I go very regularly to Gibraltar. I have visited Gibraltar ever since I was 18, so I know it extremely well. I also happen to know—as we do as Members—the Chief Minister very well. I am absolutely delighted that he is pleased with it. I share what the Minister and the noble Lord have said about the huge amount of work that he and other Ministers do. Quite simply, I congratulate the two Governments, Conservative and Labour, on the hard work they have put in and the successful result.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I have visited Gibraltar as well, and I echo everything the noble and learned Baroness had to say. This has been the work of many years and many Foreign Secretaries. It proves that sometimes, when we knuckle down and focus on the outcome that must be achieved for the people of Gibraltar, we can get there with relatively little fuss and drama.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations
Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Baroness Chapman of Darlington(8 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
My Lords, the treaty will be published very soon, and we will have a chance to properly test it according to the things that are of concern to the noble Lord. I suggest that we wait for the treaty to be scrubbed and printed so that we can all satisfy ourselves about the precise nature of what has been agreed.
Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
My Lords, it is very important that this House remembers that both major parties were seriously guilty of the most appalling behaviour towards the Chagossians. When I was a member of the Court of Appeal, under the then Conservative Government, we were not able to help the Chagossians, but we gave a judgment that absolutely excoriated them, quite correctly. But, equally, a Labour Government behaved in exactly the same way. But my question to the Minister is: are the Government satisfied that China is not a real danger?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
We are watchful; of course we are. But there is nothing in this treaty, however, that leads us to have the kind of concern that has been alluded to. As I have said, the treaty would prevent not just China but any other foreign nation from undertaking activities on the other islands other than Diego Garcia.