§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of new cars which have been imported into the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland in each of 361W the last 12 months to the end of 1987; where the sales of these vehicles are concentrated in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of the market for new cars these imports represent in these areas.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 27 January 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. The number of new cars registered in Northern Ireland during each month of 1987, the number of such vehicles which originated in the Republic of Ireland and the percentage of the total which this latter figure represents are set out in the following table. No information is kept on the areas where vehicles are sold in Northern Ireland.
1987 New Vehicles Registered Rol Vehicles Per cent. January 5,881 9 0.15 February 5.484 11 0.20 March 5,649 14 0.24 April 4,895 22 0.44 May 4,969 18 0.36 June 5,614 38 0 67 July 3,996 18 0.45 August 4,258 16 0.37 September 4,476 21 0.47 October 3,793 17 0.44 November 2,689 27 1.00 December 1,438 10 0.69 Total 53,142 221 0.46
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspection of new cars and other new vehicles imported from the Republic of Ireland are carried out to ensure that each such vehicle meets the standards laid down.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 27 January 1988]: None.
362W
District LG electors Domestic ratepayers Other ratepayers District rate P in the £ Equivalent amount per elector £ Product of domestic district rate £ Product of non-domestic regional rate £ Antirm 27,572 14,620 1,600 48.50 39.33 1,084,328 4,359,057 Ards 45,266 24,190 2,598 53.00 44.65 2,021,036 3,134,828 Armagh 35,417 16,876 2,347 38.00 25,64 908,066 2,277,692 Ballymena 39,304 19,736 2,435 39.85 31.84 1,251,524 3,936,617 Ballymoney 16,685 7,842 1,024 46.00 32,36 539,846 1,155,942 Banbridge 23,600 11,234 1,416 50.98 36.32 857,155 1,600,058 Belfast 220,326 116,480 20,885 80.03 57.36 12,638,575 33.670,233 Carrickfergus 21,627 12,012 980 59.41 48.99 1,059,578 2,896,270 Castlereagh 46,005 23,342 1,088 41.00 33.10 1,522,565 3,555,151 Coleraine 34,623 18,931 2,526 50.00 47.04 1,628,537 3,992,904 Cookstown 20,551 9,648 1,360 43.00 27.88 572,994 1,358,516 Craigavon 51,716 26,886 4,092 63.35 47.77 2,470,708 5,182,400 Derry 58,310 28,476 3,061 69.50 50.36 2,936,568 6,260,355 Down 37,269 18,480 2,452 60.00 45.85 1,708,762 2.636,116 Dungannon 30,991 14,660 2,153 44.00 26.41 818,430 2,041,618 Fermanagh 37,868 18,421 2,391 50.75 30.23 1,144,723 2,505,848 Larne 21,295 11,685 1,203 52.55 39.04 831,333 1,843,049 Limavady 17,514 8,433 937 40.95 30.84 540,046 1,343,320 Lisburn 61,551 32,404 2,720 49.75 44.71 2,751,956 6,145,444 Magherafelt 24,378 10,796 1,504 41.05 26.00 633,859 1,388,224 Moyle 10,210 5,323 749 65.75 50.04 510,938 618,481 Newry and Mourne 54,709 26,161 3,616 59.70 38.65 2,114,606 3,722,467 Newtownabbey 52,718 27,500 2,035 57.24 47.17 2,486,901 5,436,749 North Down 50,089 27,007 1,998 60.90 64.70 3,240,534 3,730,825 Omagh 29,884 13,806 1,762 51.65 32.49 970,832 2,216,695 Strabane 24,023 11,172 1,361 54.00 31.76 762,926 1,331,844
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends to take to ensure fair competition in the sale of new cars in Northern Ireland as between new cars imported into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic and those which come into Northern Ireland via the manufacturers dealership.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 27 January 1988]: I am satisfied with existing arrangements where all new cars on first registration in Northern Ireland with the exception of personal imports, must demonstrate that they meet prescribed standards. Pricing policy is a matter for the vehicle manufacturers, importers and dealers. I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.