In an interview carried in this edition of The Malta Independent, Mrs Cristina said that benefit fraud was a problem and is a challenge she wants to face up to. “We know there are people abusing our generous system. That has already been proven when a substantial number of people were found to be receiving Children’s Allowance when they were not eligible,” she said.

Mrs Cristina said the money released from benefit fraud will be re-directed to those who really need help and to the provision of services which at present are beyond government’s resources.

“In many ways, therefore, the people who are in need are not benefiting while others who are not in need continue to do so. I find this extremely socially unjust and it should definitely be addressed,” she said.

Speaking about social housing reform, Mrs Cristina said: “The system may be and is, unfortunately, sometimes abused and it is not as easy as one may think to avoid the abuse, although I know that the Department for Social Housing does its best to minimise it. In real terms, the concept of social accommodation in Malta needs to be reviewed.”

See interview on pages 4 and 5