13 June 2003
Local Government Association chair Sir Jeremy Beecham has joined the Treasury committee that oversees preparation for UK entry into the euro.
Beecham told Public Finance that he had not seen the full terms of reference and had only been asked to join in a telephone call last Sunday, the day before Chancellor Gordon Brown's June 9 statement on the euro.
He said that although planning for the single currency was limited in local government, authorities were active on a wide range of European policy issues. 'I think the greatest concern is that we need a dynamic economy to sustain public spending and the effect of the euro on that is quite significant,' Beecham said.
The committee, chaired by Brown, was set up in 1997 to lead preparations and to 'ensure that the public sector is ready for the changeover if a decision is taken to join', the Treasury said.
Other members appointed this week were Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations; Sir Graham Hall, chair of development agency Yorkshire Forward; and David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice.
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