To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the incident which took place on 7 December regarding a Spanish patrol boat in the British waters off Gibraltar. [HL666]

On Monday 7 December 2009, officers from a Spanish Civil Guard patrol boat chased another vessel into British Gibraltar territorial waters and then ashore in Gibraltar. We consider that their actions exceeded their jurisdiction and failed to respect the UK's sovereignty, and we have formally protested. Spanish authorities have apologised for the error and stressed there was no political motive. We welcome this. Officials from the UK, Spain and Gibraltar are committed to working together through the Trilateral Forum to improve law enforcement co-operation, and we welcome ongoing co-operation between police services from Gibraltar and Spain.