§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in giving answers to Questions concerning European spending programmes, they will state the amounts concerned in the legal tender of the United Kingdom and not in ecu.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The Government will continue to answer Questions in as informative and accurate a manner as possible. This may mean, depending on the precise Question, that amounts are best expressed in ecu, since the Community Budget is denominated in ecu (for example, in answer to a Question seeking information comparing spending across the Community in different years).
However, where the terms of the Question make it appropriate, amounts will continue to be expressed in pounds sterling as well as, or instead of, in ecu (for example, where a Question relates to Community spending in the UK).