§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those organisations invited by the Standing Committee on Preparations for EMU to help to prepare an outline national changeover plan to the single currency. [60633]
§ Ms HewittThe following organisations were members of the eight working parties convened to help prepare an outline national changeover plan:
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- Age Concern England
- Association of British Insurers
- Association of Convenience Stores
- Association for Payment Clearing Services
- Bank of England
- Bedfordshire County Council
- Bradford and Bingley Building Society
- British Bankers' Association
- British Chambers of Commerce
- British Retail Consortium
- Building Societies Association
- Cabinet Office
- Centrica Plc.
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
- Confederation of British Industry
- Consumers' Association
- Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
- Council for Travel and Tourism
- Department for Education and Employment
- Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
- Department of Health
- Department of National Savings
- Department of Social Security
- Department of Trade and Industry
- Empire Stores Group
- Engineering Employers Federation
- Federation of Private Business
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Financial Services Authority
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Freight Transport Association
- Halifax Building Society Plc.
- Home Office
- HM Customs and Excise
- Inland Revenue
- Institute of Directors
- John Lewis Partnership
- Local Government Association
- Midland Bank
- National Federation of Retail Newsagents
- NatWest Group
- Northern Ireland Office
- Norwich Union Plc.
- PAL International
- Petroleum Industry Association
- Post Office Counters Ltd.
- Royal Mint
- Royal National Institute for the Blind
- J. Sainsburys
- Scottish Office
- Securitas UK Ltd.
- Selfridges Ltd.
- Severn Trent Plc.
- Treasury Solicitor
- Welsh Office
- Whitbread Restaurants
- Wimpey International Ltd.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the consequences of Sweden's non-inclusion in Phase 3 of EMU for the precondition of two years membership of the ERM prior to any UK participation in EMU. [60004]
§ Ms HewittThe Government note that the Council Decision of 3 May avoided a mechanical approach, allowing for the exercise of judgment provided by the Treaty. The decision that Finland and Italy met the conditions to join the single currency, though neither country had been a member of the ERM for two years, demonstrates this exercise of judgment.
The Council Decision of 3 May, stated that Sweden did not fulfil the necessary conditions for adoption of the single currency for a number of reasons, including the incompatibility of national legislation with the requirements of the Treaty and the Statute of the ESCB.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if applicant members of the EU incapable of joining stage 3 of EMU on accession will be required to participate in an exchange rate mechanism. [59809]
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§ Ms HewittThe current applicants to the EU are neither required to adopt the euro immediately on accession, nor required to join an exchange rate mechanism.