To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department were engaged in preparatory work for the recent assessment of the UK's performance against the five economic tests for joining the euro. (240964)

The Chancellor announced in Budget 2008 that,

“the Government do not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this budget”.

The Treasury will again review the situation at Budget time next year as required by the Chancellor's June 2003 statement.