HC Deb 05 December 1997 vol 302 c369W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to ensure that any information material on Economic and Monetary Union funded by the Government will be impartial as to the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal. [19128]

Mr. Doug Henderson

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made clear, our intention is to provide information on EMU to help business and the public prepare for the single currency. We have no intention of funding propaganda on the euro's advantages or disadvantages.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government has any plans to fund information material on Economic and Monetary Union. [19131]

Mr. Doug Henderson

Yes. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made clear, some public money will be spent on providing information to help business and the wider public prepare for the euro.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to ensure that any information campaign on Economic and Monetary Union funded by the European Commission will be impartial as to the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal. [19129]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The conditions attached to the PRINCE budget line, which includes the information programme on the euro, stipulate that the money should not be used for measures which could be regarded as propaganda.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in obtaining funding from the European Commission for information material on Economic and Monetary Union. [19133]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We have applied to the Commission for financial assistance towards the cost of producing and distributing the Treasury booklet "EMU: Practical Information for Business". The Commission has approved this request in principle. We are currently engaged in a dialogue with the Commission about future financial assistance to help inform business and the wider public about EMU.