Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon evaded questions by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, asking how he intends to solve the rent problems.

Busuttil fired a couple of questions regarding the "high rent plague." He said rent is exploding, leaving many families in difficulty, "either as they can't find a property, or are renting yet the landlord kicks them out unless they pay a much higher rent. How will you address this social plague?"

Minister Michael Falzon countered with a question, asking whether Busuttil was recommending rent controls. He said that rent laws were liberated on 1994, under a PN administration. "If he is suggesting a capping or regulating rents I await his suggestion."

Busuttil responded: "I am not the social policy minister. He is and I am asking him to explain how he will address this issue. I think we can all agree this is a social plague. I didn't suggest anything. I just asked what his policy is to tackle this social plague?"

Falzon said that "It seems nobody learnt anything from the last election, certainly not those from the other side of the House. To come here and say the same thing and not propose anything... I invite you to wait for Monday and you will see the way forward."

Falzon was originally responding to a question by PN MP Jason Azzopardi regarding social housing, stating that 91 properties were allocated for social housing by the Housing Authority between 1 May and 3 June 2017. 

The minister, faced with supplementary questions, did not know if the properties still needed to be built, were ready, or needed to be acquired by government, as he does not have that information on hand.  He also did not know how much social housing was built last legislature.

Claudio Grech said that according the annual report of the Housing Authority, it was revealed that by the end of last year there were 3,500 applications for social housing. "I wanted the minister to explain whether a study has occurred given the increasing number of such persons and the pace of the economy?"

"If that is what the report says that is the fact." He said that some of the applications are for transfers. He said recently two contracts with international entities were signed where government will embark on 680 units over a number of areas. It is sad that some beat their chests for those in need, and then there protest as when a social project is being done. That is a reality we have to face. Government has an obligation to provide, but then it finds people who try and cause problems for government, whoever the government of the time may be," he said.

He said that social housing is an issue which government will try and address, and mentioned a recent investment to help tackle the problem.

The minister answered a number of other questions on social housing.