To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Gibraltar. (186859)

[holding answer 19 February 2008]: The suspension of the Chief Justice is a matter for the Governor of Gibraltar. The Governor, as Her Majesty the Queen's Representative in Gibraltar, acting in accordance with the Constitution of Gibraltar and on the advice of the Gibraltar Judicial Service Commission, has established a tribunal to consider whether the Governor should request that the removal of the Chief Justice from office be referred by Her Majesty the Queen to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council. Pending the outcome of these proceedings the Governor, again acting in accordance with the advice of the Gibraltar Judicial Service Commission, has suspended the Chief Justice from his office.