§ Mr. CotterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps her Department are taking to help small and medium-sized enterprises prepare for the introduction of the single currency. [53092]
§ Mrs. RocheDTI Ministers have taken part in a range of events to help business prepare for the single currency.
The Euro Preparations Unit (EPU) has been set up in Her Majesty's Treasury to raise awareness of the implication of EMU for UK businesses, and to help them prepare for the strategic and practical changes that will come with the introduction of the single currency on 1 January 1999. The Unit contains secondees from the DTI and from the private sector, in addition to Treasury staff. The Unit published its first full report on preparation in the UK 'Getting Ready for the Euro' earlier this month.
DTI officials will continue to work closely with the EPU to ensure that the many business contacts that the Department has are used to best effect. For instance, twelve new regional forums, led by local business representatives with the involvement (in England) of the Government Offices for the Regions, have been set up specifically to help small and medium-sized businesses prepare for the Euro.