A new Labour government will commission an independent study on the power surcharge if a Nationalist government fails to do so, Labour Leader Dr Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Speaking in Fgura, Dr Sant said that the opposition would continue proposing the social impact of the fuel surcharge on those families who could not carry the burden. He called on the government to carry out an independent audit and not resort to strong game tactics.

Dr Sant said that the astronomical rise in the surcharge was not necessary if Dr Gonzi’s government had taken heed of advice and had acted earlier on hedging agreements. He said that hedging agreements should have been entered into in November and December but now it is too late and the general public have to pay the price.

Speaking on the rising cost of living, Dr Sant said that a new Labour government would be clamping down on price regulators to ensure that families get a fair deal. He said that the government was adopting a cowboy attitude and had spent almost quarter of a million liri on new vehicles excluding army and police cars.

Dr Sant said that a Labour government would revive the plan to give life to the south, that had been launched in the 1996-98 administration.