It sounds like there is an amazing amount of traffic info being passed.
It's funny you mention this
rgg, as having moved from the London terminal area to Canadian airspace, the traffic information passed here is exponentially much higher and is something I have had to get used to.
ManOps (Canadian version of MATS) states thou shall pass traffic information to aircraft that are going to be separated by the minimum standard, even if they are in the cruise. Not required in Blighty.