asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an investigation into the quantity of merchandise originating from or destined for continents other than Europe, that arrives or leaves the United Kingdom in roll-on/roll-off road services serving deep-sea vessels in European ports.

Statistics of port traffic are a matter for the National Ports Council which has not at present got comprehensive data on transhipment traffic. I understand there are certain difficulties, but the council is exploring what more can be obtained.