Euro (Hansard, 12 January 1998)

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the euro will be legal tender in the United Kingdom. [15967]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The euro would become legal tender in the United Kingdom if we were to join the single currency. It will not be legal tender in the United Kingdom if it is introduced in other EU member states on 1 January 1999 as the United Kingdom will not join the single currency then. However, as with other major foreign currencies, it will be possible to use the euro in a wide range of transactions in the United Kingdom from that date.

§ Sir Richard Body
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1997,Official Report, column 658, what representations his Department made at the time of selection of the euro symbol to ensure it was distinguishable from that for sterling where physical display of coin or note is not involved; what representations he has received from (a) software and (b) hardware specialists on problems 48W adapting their systems to permit computer representation of the euro symbol; and if he will estimate the projected cost of implementing changes to computer systems to accommodate the euro symbol. [20315]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The European Commission was responsible for the design of the euro symbol. The selection was carried out by market testing a number of alternative designs with the public. The Treasury has not separately made representations on the ease with which the euro currency symbol is distinguishable from the pound sterling symbol.
The Treasury is in regular contact with representatives from the IT industry, including through the work of the Business Advisory Group on the practical implications of EMU.
The use of the symbol is not required by legislation. We expect there will be a number of options for computer users wishing to display the symbol.