Written question asked by Mark Francois (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2007. It was answered by Ed Balls (Labour) on Thursday, 10 May 2007 on behalf of the Treasury.

Economic and Monetary Union

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the members are of the Standing Committee on Euro Preparations; how many times the Committee met in each of the last five years; what the annual administration cost of the Committee was in each of those years; how many civil servants are seconded to the Committee on a (a) full-time and (b) part-time basis; and what the grade is of each of those civil servants.

Answer: Details of the meetings of the Chancellor’s Standing Committee on Euro Preparations, including attendance and minutes of the meetings, are available on the Treasury’s euro website (www.euro.gov.uk). The members of the Committee are:"Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair),""Economic Secretary to the Treasury,""Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,""Secretary of State for Wales,""Secretary of State for Scotland,""Secretary of State for Trade and Industry,""Chair of Cross Party Group on Euro Preparations,""Head of the Home Civil Service,""General Secretary of Trades Union Congress,""Vice-Chair of Local Government Association,""Chief Executive of National Council for Voluntary Organizations,""Chief Executive of Citizens Advice,""Chair of Yorkshire Forward (representing the RDAs),""Director General of the Confederation of British Industry,""Governor of Bank of England,""Chairman of Financial Services Authority,""President of British Bankers’ Association,""President of British Chambers of Commerce,""Chairman of British Retail Consortium."There are no civil servants seconded to the Committee on either a full or part time basis. Civil servants in the Treasury’s Euro Preparations Unit provide support for Committee meetings as required. The costs of the Euro Preparations Unit are met from within departmental expenditure limits.

Secondary information