Euro (Hansard, 26 November 2001)

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what costs his Department has incurred in achieving EMU compliance. [17710]

§ Ruth Kelly
An update on euro preparations was included in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 4 November 2001. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.
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§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on planned expenditure in the United Kingdom from the Pericles programme to cover euro-counterfeiting; and if Europol officers will be involved. [17624]

§ Ruth Kelly
The Pericles programme is not expected to entail significant new expenditure. Most of the costs of the programme will be met by the Community. The costs associated with training UK staff are likely to be met from existing budgets for that purpose within the agencies concerned—principally the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Bank of England.
Contributors to the Pericles programme will be invited from all the international organisations with relevant expertise, including Europol and Interpol.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what analysis he has made of the establishment of monitors of price stability during the currency switchover period in Eurozone countries; who will fulfil such a role in the context of the UK joining the euro; and if he will make a statement; [17625]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of the euro on inflation in European economies, with reference to the consequential effect on the United Kingdom economy; and if he will make a statement. [17626]

§ Ruth Kelly
Background to developments in the euro area was set out in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 4 November. Preparations for the possibility of the UK joining the single currency are addressed in the second Outline National Changeover Plan, published in March 2000. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House.