asked Her Majesty's Government:Why it is that the people of Gibraltar, although they are all full citizens of the European Community and entitled to register as British citizens, have no vote in elections to the European Parliament.

There are constitutional and practical difficulties in the way of direct Gibraltarian representation in the European Parliament, notably Gibraltar's status as a dependent territory.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that on 19th November 1984, seven British members of the European Parliament were unanimously adopted by the Gibraltar House of Assembly to represent the Gibraltar people in the European Parliament, since they had been unable to vote in the June 1984 European elections; and whether the Government believe that these seven MEPs, known as the Gibraltar in Europe Representation Group, are representative of the Gibraltar people in this function.

The Government take the view that Gibraltar's interests are well served by the arrangements to which my noble friend refers.