§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what budget(a) his Department, (b) the regional offices and (c) the Regional Development Agencies have for preparations for the euro; [88095]
(2) what action is being taken by (a) the Regional Development Agencies and (b) his Department to prepare businesses for the introduction of the euro. [88096]
§ Mr. PrescottFollowing the publication of the Government's Outline Changeover Plan, my Department is considering what preparations may be necessary for the introduction of the euro as far as its own areas of responsibility are concerned. Beyond this, my Department and the Government Offices for the Regions have no specific budget for euro preparations, neither do the Regional Development Agencies.
Government advice for business on the implications of the introduction of the euro in the eurozone countries is co-ordinated by HM Treasury. Government support includes the setting up of 12 regional euro fora, in which the Government Offices for the Regions were involved and in which the Regional Development Agencies have been invited to participate.