§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the positive and negative effects over the next decade on the British agricultural industry of the advent of the euro, whether or not the United Kingdom adopts the euro. [HL1543]
§ Baroness HaymanThe launch of the euro in eleven European Union (EU) countries has major implications for UK firms of all sizes across a number of business sectors, including agriculture. That is why the Government established the Euro Preparations Unit (EPU) in the Treasury. Since its inception in December 1997, EPU has run a major business information campaign on the euro and published euro factsheets and case studies, which help SMEs in particular to take account of the euro now that it is a business reality. Further information can be found in the Treasury's regular euro progress reports, the most recent of which was published in November 1999. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.