HL Deb 05 April 1984 vol 450 cc891-2WA
Lord Underhill

asked Her Majesty' Government:

What consideration has been given to proposals in a major study of Irish borders by the EEC's Economic and Social Committee, with particular reference to

  1. (a) proposals for an industrial development zone in the area of Londonderry, Strabane and Letterkenny to be promoted to a new cross border agency backed jointly by the Industrial Development Authority in the Republic and the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board, with financial support from the EEC;
  2. (b) recommendations for streamlining of customs clearance facilities on the main Newry-Dundalk road to avoid the frequent considerable hold-up of lorries and so remove what the report describes as "a major bottle-neck to EEC trade".

Viscount Long

The Government have noted the report prepared by the Economic and Social Committee which will be useful when proposals for the border areas are being considered; the specific recommendation for a cross-border industrial zone raises significant difficulties but the Government have not yet reached a conclusion.

The Government are aware of the need to keep delays at the border to a minimum and are intent on reducing formalities as far as practicable; a number of simplified customs procedures for goods moving between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have already been introduced. Also the United Kingdom, along with other member states of the European Community, is exploring ways of streamlining procedures for intra-Community trade.