Written question asked by Lord Hoyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 February 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 March 2019. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 11 March 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Gibraltar: Spain

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they have received from the government of Spain that incursions by Spanish patrol vessels into Gibraltar's territorial water will cease.

Answer: We make formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish authorities following every incursion. Our Ambassador in Madrid raised with the Spanish Government on 18 February 2019 our concerns about provocative actions and incursions by Spanish state vessels in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW). Incursions are a violation of sovereignty, not a threat to it. They do not weaken or undermine the legal basis in international law for British sovereignty over Gibraltar, including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Secondary information