Replying to a question by Opposition spokesman Carmelo Abela, Dr Borg laid the documents on the table, from which it transpires that the longest pending cases are found in Gozo’s courts, with the oldest going back to 1982. Aside from another two cases dating back to 1983 and 1987, most of the cases are relatively recent (1999-2004). The oldest case before the Magistrates’ Court in Malta goes back to 1997.

Until the end of the financial year ending 1998, the Inland Revenue Department was due Lm133,351,801 by Maltese taxpayers, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said in parliament yesterday replying to a question by Opposition spokesman Noel Farrugia.

Replying to a question by Malta Labour Party spokesman Evarist Bartolo, Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea yesterday said the number of people who have lost their job during May reached 183, 60 of whom were under 25 years of age.