To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Gibraltar Service Police Staff Association was not party to the discussions prior to the agreement between his Department and the Transport and General Workers Association on 31 May 2007 on the future of the Gibraltar dockyard; and if he will make a statement. (211203)

The Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association was not party to the discussions as their members were not affected by that agreement, which noted that the Gibraltar Services Police were to be subject to a separate forthcoming review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what direct consultations his Department has had with the Gibraltar Service Police Staff Association about the future of (a) the Gibraltar dockyard and (b) the Gibraltar Service Police; and if he will make a statement. (211204)

There have been no consultations with the Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association (GSPSA) on the future of the Gibraltar dockyard. HQ British Forces Gibraltar issued for consultation the terms of reference document for the Gibraltar Policing and Security Review to the GSPSA and other interested parties on 4 June 2007. They responded on 19 June 2007 and conduct of the review commenced on 20 June 2007. The GSPSA has been kept informed on the progress of the review. Should the review determine an option that changes the current status or structure of the Gibraltar Services Police, then the normal process of consultation will take place in line with standard departmental procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions in the agreement between his Department and the Transport and General Workers Union on 31 May 2007 (a) relate to the Gibraltar Service Police (GSP), (b) have a direct effect on the GSP and (c) have a direct effect on individual GSP officers; and if he will make a statement. (211205)

There are no provisions in the agreement that relate to the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP), or have a direct effect on the GSP or individual GSP officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the evidential basis is for the estimated cost saving which his Department has indicated will result from the transfer of the Gibraltar Service Police (GSP) to the Royal Gibraltar Police; for what reason the documents relevant to the proposed transfer were not made available to the Gibraltar Service Police Staff Association; and if he will place the documents in the Library. (211206)

The Department has not yet reached any decision on the future of the GSP. In particular, no decision has been taken to transfer GSP functions to the Royal Gibraltar Police. Decisions on the future of the GSP will only be taken after the completion of an investment appraisal. I will write to the hon. Member once a final decision has been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations his Department held on the proposed transfer of the Gibraltar Service Police (GSP) to the Royal Gibraltar Police with the GSP Chief Police Officer through (a) the Headquarters of the British Forces GIB security review and (b) any other means; and if he will make a statement. (211207)

The Department has not yet reached any decision on the future of the GSP. Accordingly, there have been no consultations with the GSP Chief Police Officer on the transfer of the GSP to the Royal Gibraltar Police. Over the past year both incumbents of the GSP Chief Officer post have been actively engaged in the security review.