Written question asked by Priti Patel (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 July 2025. It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Gibraltar: Sovereignty

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization’s 2025 session statement published in June 2025 (GA/COL/3393) on the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

Answer: The UN press release summarising part of the annual discussions of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C24) has no implications for UK Government policy towards Gibraltar, including UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. The Government believes the C24 is outdated, and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories. The Government does, however, support the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the C24 directly. As the press release makes clear, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar welcomed the 11 June UK-EU agreement regarding Gibraltar's future relationship with the European Union and that he envisaged a new and more positive relationship with Spain as a consequence of it. The treaty text will make clear that it in no way affects sovereignty.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 64030
Session: 2024-26
Related items: UN Special Committee on Decolonisation
Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Gibraltar UN Special Committee on Decolonisation Sovereignty
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk