Clause 9 - Electoral Commission recommendation as to the electoral region to be combined with Gibraltar
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
10:15 am
Mr William Cash (Stone, Conservative)
I am grateful to the Minister for the constructive way, at last, in which we are beginning to make progress on some of the points that we have made. It is important to put on record that the Governor is the representative of the British monarch, by whom he is appointed, and is responsible for matters directly relating to external affairs, defence, internal security and other matters not specifically defined as domestic matters in Gibraltar's constitution. I made the point that elections are defined as a domestic matter under our constitution, so we were moving into territory that would have caused a direct conflict between the Gibraltar constitution and arrangements that arise under the Bill.
The Governor is the head of the Executive who administer Gibraltar, usually by acting on the advice of the Gibraltar Council. I am a bit mystified by the Gibraltar Council, on which I do not think that we need to elaborate, but I understand that it is not one of the most active bodies, although we may receive further information on that in due course. The Gibraltar Council includes the Chief Minister, who has been acknowledged in the Bill already, and the Governor's formal assent on behalf of the Crown is required for all legislation passed by the Gibraltar House of Assembly, although it is generally automatic.
That is all that I need to say. I am grateful to the Minister for her comments, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
The Chairman, being of the opinion that the principle of the clause and any matters arising thereon
had been adequately discussed in the course of debate on the amendments proposed thereto, forthwith put the Question, pursuant to Standing Orders Nos. 68 and 89, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question agreed to.
Clause 9 ordered to stand part of the Bill.