To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) of 26 June, Official Report, column 608, if he will make a statement on the obligations of member states not participating in the Euro-area as set out in the presidency conclusions at Amsterdam. [11423]

[holding answer 30 July 1997]: As I said in my previous reply, membership of the new exchange rate mechanism will be voluntary. There is therefore no legal obligation to join.