To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to publish an assessment of whether the UK has met the five economic tests to join the euro; and what preparatory work his officials are undertaking for such an assessment. (234488)

[holding answer 10 November 2008]: The Chancellor announced in Budget 2008 that the Government did not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this Budget. The Treasury will again review the situation at the Budget next year as required by the then Chancellor’s statement in 2003.