The three architects involved in drawing up an estimate of the Lowenbrau factory land in Qormi – the subject of a report submitted to Parliament by the Auditor General – this morning issued a statement to explain their position.

The full letter statement is as follows:

"Reference is made to the NAO report: “An Investigation of Property Transfers between 2006 and 2013: The Transfer of Land at Ta’ l-Istabal, Qormi”.

The undersigned three periti, who prepared the report on the land in Qormi, referred to in the NAO report, wish to declare the following, in the interest of factual correctness. As is stated in our report of January 2012, we were given the brief to estimate the free market value of the perpetual emphyteusis in 1990, without the condition that was imposed in the original emphyteutical grant, that is, that the said land be used for the construction of an industrial building only for the production of beer.

We were required to value this particular condition in the emphyteutical grant, and not to estimate the fair market value of the land in 2012; and this because the perpetual emphyteusis had already been redeemed by the emphyteuta, in accordance with the Law. Our assignment was to give an indication to the Lands Department of the value of the condition imposed in 1990, in the original emphyteutical grant, so that this condition could be extinguished - since the redemption of the original grant did not extinguish the original conditions of the grant.

It is therefore not correct to give the impression that the fair market value of the land in question was estimated at €706,400 in 2012, as unfortunately could be understood from the NAO report, and this for the simple reason that we were not given that assignment; given that the emphyteusis had already been redeemed according to Law, neither was it possible for such assignment to be given to us."

In a statement, the Labour Party said Jason Azzopardi should shoulder his responsibility.