HC Deb 13 July 1999 vol 335 cc99-100W
Mr. MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much expenditure her Department(a) has incurred to date and (b) expects to incur in the future on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if she will make a statement. [91038]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The information for the NIO and NI departments is as follows:

  1. (a) The cost incurred to date in preparing for the euro is approximately £80,000.
  2. (b) The expenditure expected to be incurred in the future on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry is estimated at £104,000.

The costs incurred to date have largely been spent on making the private and public sector aware of the implications of a single currency. The largest element of the estimated costs at (b) are based on manpower requirements to complete departmental changeover plans later this year.