BRITAIN must make its decision on the euro within the next year or so and "get on with its life", the director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said last night.

Digby Jones called on the Government to end "delay and prevarication" on the issue. He was backed by John Monks, general secretary of the TUC, who said it was time to face up to policy changes faced by Britain.

Both men predicted that the manufacturing industry would have a challenging year in 2002.

Mr Jones said uncertainty about Britain's membership of the euro inevitably had an impact on investment decisions.

He said: "Britain has got to be shown to make its decision and get on with its life, because I'm very concerned as we face, as Europe, a global slow-down in a competitive world, economic reform in Europe is not happening.

"Britain cannot really influence that, if we are a country member. We have got to show where we are actually standing and, over the next year or so, come to a decision one way or the other. It is the delay and the prevarication which causes the problem."

Mr Jones said people in Britain would "get used" to the currency, which goes into circulation in Europe from Tuesday.

He said: "This is to do with the commerciality of life and, if the market makes it available at a time and in a way that consumers will use it, it will get used, and if they don't, it won't."

One company that has already been using the euro is Japanese motor manufacturer Nissan. It recently began production of its new Primera at its Sunderland plant with the European driver in mind, and is invoicing 70 per cent of its suppliers in euros.

But at rival car manufacturer Ford, the executive charged with overseeing the euro's introduction has described it as being the largest project ever undertaken in its administrative area.

Peter Erbert, a Ford manager for 30 years, has spent the past four of them dedicated to preparing the group's European operations.

He has to ensure that Ford's 150 main suppliers worldwide can negotiate in the single currency and that 1,800 dealers are ready for euro-pricing.

Mr Erbert said Ford broke the project into two phases: first to prepare for the single currency in January 1999 and secondly, for the arrival of notes and coins two years later.

If phase one is completed well, it would ensure a smooth transition in 2002, he said.