Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the circumstances concerning the incursion of a Spanish customs vessel into Gibraltar British Territorial waters on 11 September, and what discussions they have had with the government of Spain on the matter.

On 11 September a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel made an illegal incursion into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) and attempted to stop and board a Gibraltarian pleasure boat. The Royal Gibraltar Police, Gibraltar Customs and the Royal Navy attended the incident, during which the Guardia Civil vessel repeatedly manoeuvred recklessly endangering the other vessels and those on board. The Royal Navy challenged the Guardia Civil vessel as they always do, after which the Guardia Civil left BGTW. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), raised this unacceptable incursion and the dangerous behaviour of the Guardia Civil vessel at Ministerial level with the Spanish government.