§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total amount of road traffic from the Republic of Ireland which passed through the United Kingdom on its way to the continent of Europe during the last year for which full figures are available.
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§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo figures are available for car or coach traffic. Regarding goods traffic, it is estimated that in 1987 around 14,000 Irish-registered road goods vehicles left British ports for mainland Europe, most of which would have entered Great Britain from the Republic carrying (or going to fetch) goods in transit to (or from) mainland Europe. This and earlier figures are published in "Road Goods Vehicles on Roll-on Roll-off Ferries to Mainland Europe, 4th Quarter 1987" Department of Transport bulletin (88)1, a copy of which is in the Library. The figure does not include non-Irish foreign vehicles carrying Irish trade—a much smaller number; nor does it include British vehicles, either towing trailers making transit journeys, or otherwise carrying Irish trade with Europe between British ports.