The prime minister emphasised yesterday that he remains "determined" to take Britain into the single currency.

Unveiling a Cabinet committee charged with preparing for entry, Tony Blair said no-one should underestimate his "personal determination to make sure Britain plays its full role at the centre of Europe".

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry will today publish a consultation document which could result in listed firms being forced to include data on the impact of staying out of the euro in their annual report.

Produced by a DTI working group, the report says: "The directors' opinion on the strategic implications for the company of the UK's deferring for some years a decision on whether or not to join the single currency might be material."