§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total value of all exports from Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom, to the Republic of Ireland, to other EEC countries and to all other countries outside the EEC for each of the past five years; if he will give these figures as a percentage of the whole; and if he will list the principal exports to each country;
(2) what was the total value of all imports into Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, other EEC countries and all countries outside the EEC, in each of the past five years; if he will give these figures as a percentage of the total; and if he will identify the principal imports from each country over the same period.
§ Mr. Giles ShawStatistics do not exist on the distribution of imports to and exports from different regions of the United Kingdom. The information sought by the hon. Member is therefore not available. There is information, however, about trade across the land frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The latest figures available are as follows:
Year Value of goods passing from Northern Ireland to the Republic Value of goods passing into Northern Ireland from the Republic (£ million) (£ million) 1974 181.3 203.5 1975 207.4 252.8 1976 291.0 313.3 1977 471.9 409.7 1978 642.7 522.5 However, a considerable proportion of this trade, in both directions, comprises goods in transit between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. I shall send to the hon. Member some material from the annual census of production which, while by no means comprehensive or up-to-date, provides a broad indication of the pattern of exports by Northern Ireland firms.