Yesterday Tony Blair appealed to Britain's big business to take a commanding role in preparing the "UK" economy for the move to the single European currency soon after 2000.

He said: " If the economic benefits are clear and unambiguous in favour of going in, we want Britain to be part of a single successful currency.... And we want business to prepare for that eventuality and make a practical reality of it, as only business can. "

This is the right attitude at last, however, how can Scotland benefit when its parliament will be so hampered by having to bend the knee to Londons whims? With the DTI controlling what can and cannot be invested in the country and with the Bank of England setting interest rates for Scottish business, it will be a fiasco.