§ 26. Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the prospects for the UK joining the single currency(a) at the time of the announcement of the five tests and (b) at the most recent date. [83214]
§ Ms HewittIn his statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997,Official Report, columns 584–88, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that, barring some fundamental and unforeseen change in economic circumstances, making a decision, during the lifetime of this Parliament, to join the single currency was not realistic. But preparations should be made so that Britain would be in a position to join a successful single currency early in the next Parliament, should Government, Parliament and the British people agree. This position was restated by the Prime Minister in his statement to the House of Commons on 23 February 1999, Official Report, columns 179–83.