§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had, and on what dates, with(a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the timing of a future referendum on British participation in the single European currency. [135007]
§ Mr. VazThe Secretary of State meets his Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis and discusses a wide range of issues.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the political factors affecting his assessment of the desirability of the United Kingdom replacing the pound with the euro. [135042]
§ Mr. VazThe Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement on 27 October 1997, Official Report, columns 583–88, that
the determining factor as to whether Britain joins a single currency is the national economic interest, and whether the economic case for doing so is clear and unambiguous.He also stated that
there is no constitutional bar to British membership of EMU.