§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds of the research study of transport costs in peripheral regions commissioned by the Department of Economic Development and others; how he assesses the value of the research and report to Northern Ireland; and what measures will follow to redress the disadvantage to the economy of the province of transport costs higher than elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. BoysonThe overall cost of the study was £50,000 with £12,500 each being contributed by the Department of Economic Development and the Industry Department for Scotland and £25,000 by the European Commission.
The research and the report are helpful in providing an analysis of the transport costs incurred by firms in Northern Ireland and comparing these with the equivalent costs for certain other regions of the United Kingdom. The study has been valuable in helping to resolve some of the uncertainties and misconceptions which surround this issue, and it is worth noting that the report has concluded that measurable transport costs are on average not significantly higher in Northern Ireland than in the other regions. The report has, however, drawn attention to other less readily quantifiable factors involved in Northern Ireland's peripheral location.
The report is being studied in detail and it is too early to indicate what lessons may be drawn from the study by Government.