§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EU countries currently fulfil the requirements for convergence set out in the Maastricht treaty protocols; and to what extent each country fails to meet each of the criteria. [2367]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe question of which countries fulfil the necessary conditions for adoption of the single currency will be decided by the Council meeting in the form of Heads of State or Government, in accordance with Article 109j of the EC Treaty. The latest Commission Spring forecasts, which are available in the Library, provide comparable estimates of 1996 outturns for inflation, interest rates, debt and deficits for each member state.