asked the Taoiseach if he will state the number of motor cars assembled from parts wholly or mainly manufactured outside the sterling area for each of the years 1947 to date and the number of manufactured cars similarly so imported.
Written Answers. - Motor Car Assembly.
The numbers of touring motor cars, complete, imported from non-sterling countries were 16 in 1947, 13 in 1948, ten in 1949, 14 in 1950, and seven in 1951. It is not possible from the information available to state the number of motor cars assembled from parts wholly or mainly manufactured outside the sterling area. It may, however, be stated that (a) the total numbers of motor vehicle chassis aggregates imported as parts, for vehicles other than motor bicycles and tricycles, from non-sterling countries were 5,670 in 1947, 9,772 in 1948, 570 in 1949, 1,128 in 1950 and 1,284 in 1951; (b) the numbers of new private cars registered of makes which are assembled in this country from parts known to be wholly or mainly manufactured outside the sterling area were 601 in 1947, 613 in 1948, 459 in 1949, 579 in 1950 and 1,012 in 1951. These totals may include the small numbers given above as imported complete.