HL Deb 24 July 1997 vol 581 cc178-9WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recent strength of sterling relative to other European currencies is a result of government policy

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Sterling is affected by a range of domestic and external factors which are not within the direct control of the Government or the Bank of England. The appreciation of sterling since last August against other European currencies largely reflects the strength of the UK economy relative to the German and French economies, and also speculation about EMU.