Out of more than 680 soldiers who were screened, 32 resulted positive for TB mute. None of them was found to carry an infectious disease.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Joe Debono Grech that since schoolchildren have been screened for TB for the past 40 years and since the vaccine that those who prove negative are given is sufficient for the rest of their lives, one can assume that most of the AFM members are immune to TB.
Mr Debono Grech asked if those soldiers who have TB mute have been working with irregular immigrants. Dr Gonzi replied that all those who come in contact with irregular immigrants are being screened and, if found negative, given the appropriate vaccine.
Ageing dockyard
Out of the 1,750 who are employed with Malta Shipyards only 407 are aged below 35 years. The rest, 1,343, are over 35 years, Investments Minister Austin Gatt told Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi.
Maltese-registered ships
The number of ships registered in Malta stood at 4,104 at the end of last year, with a gross tonnage of 24,186,698, Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea told Dr Azzopardi. The number of ships registered last year amounted to 675 with a gross tonnage of 4,203,472.
85 referred to prison for VAT offences
Over the past five years, the Corradino Correctional Facility received 85 referral tickets from the Court regarding Vat fines that have been changed to prison sentences, Justice Minister Tonio Borg told Dr Azzopardi.
It may however be the case that more than one referral ticket referred to the same person.
The euro and the Maltese lira
Labour MP Noel Farrugia pointed out that when the Maltese lira was supported by a basket of 60 per cent euro, 20 per cent sterling, and 10 per cent US dollar, Lm100 would get between 242 and 238 euro while now that the Maltese lira is 100 per cent backed by the euro, one is given between 222 and 228 euro per lira.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi replied that one reason for this is that while from 2002 to 2004 the euro was weakening compared to the Maltese lira, between January 2005 and the entry of the Maltese lira in ERM II last May, the euro strengthened.
However, he added, the parity rate which was introduced on 2 May 2005, which was exactly the same as that at the close of market business on 30 April 2005, meant that Lm100 get you euro 233. The rates euro 222 to euro 228 mentioned by Mr Farrugia must then be rates quoted by shops which include banking expenses and other expenses. Such rates are indicative only. The legal currency of Malta is still the Maltese lira and no one must be asked to pay in euros or any other foreign currency.
Big tent at Ta' Qali
Labour MP Carmelo Abela asked the Rural Affairs and Environment Minister to confirm that the company which is setting up a gigantic tent at Ta' Qali has been given all permits. He pointed out that the tent will hinder the enjoyment of the Ta' Qali spaces by hundreds of families in the sunny days of the end of winter.
Minister George Pullicino replied that there is an ongoing public consultation on the Ta' Qali Action Plan and a final decision will only be taken when this process is over.
The draft plan which has been published for public consultation indicates that a temporary activity such as that mentioned by Mr Abela takes up space from that area reserved for parking and in no way can be allowed to take from the space provided for the general public's informal recreation.