HL Deb 11 October 1999 vol 605 cc58-9WA
Lord Swinfen

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have already minted or arranged to have minted euro coins; and whether they have already printed or arranged to have printed euro notes. [HL4100]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

No euro notes or coins are being produced for issue in the UK.

The Bank of England is assisting the European Central Bank in technical preparations. These will involve producing sample banknotes to be used for reference purposes by those countries introducing euro notes in 2002, having joined the single currency on 1 January 1999. The Royal Mint has contracts to supply blank metal disks to seven of the 11 countries that are introducing euro coinage in 2002. These disks will be used to mint their own euro coins.