HC Deb 05 March 1984 vol 55 cc481-2W
Mr. Beggs

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the unapproved roads linking Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Mr. Hayhoe

I have been asked to reply.

There are 20 routes within Northern Ireland which are approved by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the importation and exportation of goods by land. These routes are listed in the schedule to the Customs (Land Boundary) Regulations 1965 (SI 1965 No. 1031), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

All other routes linking Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are commonly known as "unapproved roads". Her Majesty's Customs and Excise do not maintain a list of these unapproved roads although for operational reasons they have a good knowledge of them and in particular of those which are capable of being used by traffic. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 18 January by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (at c. 256–8.)