Single European Currency

HC Deb 07 July 2000 vol 353 cc333-4W

Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what budget he has set for expenditure under the national changeover plan in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and how much has been spent to date; [129739]

(2) by whom the decision was taken to incur expenditure in NHS hospitals in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and on what date. [129740]

Ms Stuart

In his statement to the House in October 1997, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the Government wouldbegin to prepare ourselves so that, should we meet the economic tests, we can make a decision to join a successful single currency early in the next Parliament.

The National Health Service is carrying out a measure of pre-planning for the possible introduction of the euro as set out in the second Outline National Changeover Plan published on 9 March 2000. The costs of this ongoing exercise are contained within normal running costs and cannot be separately identified.