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Questions in Commons about Spanish incursions
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Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps the Royal Navy has taken in response to incursions into the waters around Gibraltar between 14 and 20 May 2012;
(2) what his policy is on intervention by the Royal Navy in the event of an incursion into the waters around Gibraltar by the Guardia Civil;
(3) what standing orders are given to Royal Navy vessels charged with protecting and patrolling the waters around Gibraltar.
Nick Harvey [holding answer 24 May 2012]: A part of the Royal Navy’s role in Gibraltar is to deter and challenge all marine incursions which threaten the integrity of British Gibraltar territorial waters. In line with standing orders, appropriate warnings have been issued in response to each recent incursion by Spanish state vessels. In addition, protests are being made through diplomatic channels.
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recent activity of the Royal Navy has been in response to the actions of the Spanish Guardia Civil in British Territorial Waters off Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron will continue to deter and challenge all marine incursions which threaten the integrity of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. In line with standing orders, appropriate warnings have been issued in response to each recent incursion.
The Ministry of Defence remains absolutely committed to ensuring the defence and security of Gibraltar, its residents and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times vessels from the Spanish Guardia Civil have entered British Territorial Waters or any Gibraltarian port in the last seven days.
Nick Harvey: Between 21 May and 28 May 2012, Guardia Civil vessels entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters 38 times. Of these 29 were "innocent passages" as defined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The remaining nine were subject to appropriate warnings by the Royal Navy and protests through diplomatic channels.
14-06-12
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