THE heads of four UK car companies feature among 114 business chiefs who have called on the Government 'to join the single currency as soon as the conditions for successful entry are in place'. Nick Reilly, chairman and managing director of Vauxhall, Walter Hasselkus, chairman and chief executive officer of Rover, Ian Gibson, managing director and chief executive of Nissan Motor Manufacturing, and Massimo Carello, chairman of Fiat UK, have all lent their support to the Euro, calling it a 'force for economic stability'.

In a joint statement published in the Financial Times, they said the single currency: 'will promote low and stable interest rates and low inflation, and encourage prudent fiscal management.' They warned that this country would face higher interest rates and a more exposed currency outside EMU, both of which could affect future inward investment.