Dr Gatt told Justyne Caruana that the outstanding bill has now been paid: a cheque for Lm12,000 was paid by Mimcol earlier this month.
No Gladiator II
Investments Minister Austin Gatt yesterday refused to confirm that a sequel to Gladiator, Gladiator II, will be shot in Malta.
He was asked by Jason Azzopardi.
Sale of houses
Between 1998 and August 2004 the Housing Authority signed 881 contracts for the sale of government-owned residences to the residents, Family Minister Dolores Cristina told Jason Azzopardi.
Job placements
The number of job placements by ETC this year has been of 1,724, of which 1,438 were in the private sector.
1,510 people sacked
The number of people who were made redundant from January to July was of 1,510, Education Minister Louis Galea told Jason Azzopardi.
The highest number of those made redundant came from the manufacturing of footwear and clothing sector, followed by the manufacturing of electrical machinery and the wholesale and retail trades.
Drug arraignments
Police arraigned 501 people, including 57 foreigners, on drug charges between January and September, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told Adrian Vassallo.
Diplomat called home
The Maltese diplomat who has not been recognised by the Libyan authorities has been recalled and will be returning back to Malta next month, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said.
Relations with Libya
Government will be working to strengthen relations with Libya, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said. Replying to a Leo Brincat question, Dr Frendo said consultations with stakeholders on this regard are already being done with the Chamber of Commerce and the Maltese-Arab and Maltese-Libyan chambers of commerce.
Double
taxation talks
After then Foreign Minister John Dalli brought up the subject of a double taxation agreement between Malta and the US during a visit he did to the US, talks have been going on between the two sides, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said.
Malta’s Ambassador John Lowell represented Malta in most of the negotiations.
Traffic lights question
withdrawn
A question that had already been tabled by Leo Brincat as regards the Gas Tank traffic lights, on which subject he had already spoken on the Adjournment, was yesterday withdrawn by Mr Brincat.
Six months waiting for appeal
People who are struck off the unemployment register and appeal have to wait for five or six months until their case is heard, Jason Azzopardi complained.
Education Minister Louis Galea said the authority meets once a week even in Summer and hears 20 appeals in each session.
It also holds special hearings for cases from Gozo.
But since some cases had to be postponed and heard more than once, the minister said, a certain delay has been created over which the authority has no control.
More suicides than accident victims
The highest number of tragic deaths from January to September this year was suicides, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.
Replying to an Adrian Vassallo question, the minister said 24 (15 men and nine women) committed suicide during this time-frame while 10 (nine men and one woman) lost their lives as a result of traffic accidents. Six people (two men and four women) were murdered. There were also 18 other fatal accidents.