The financial information that is submitted to the European Central Bank is submitted on an accrual basis.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi confirmed this in a reply to a Charles Mangion question yesterday.
Dr Gonzi said that the Central Bank passes on to ECB financial figures that are collected by the National Office of Statistics which collects this information on an accrual basis.
Gozo band clubs
The government is considering ways of increasing aid to the two main band clubs of Victoria which produce yearly operatic festivals.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi rose to reply to a number of questions by Justyne Caruana who had expressed she was not satisfied with the written reply given to her by Dr Gonzi. The written reply said that as theatre activities constitute economic activity, they are not exempt from Vat.
Replying to Dr Caruana's first oral question, Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela said that most of the voluntary work could be termed as cultural, so where does one draw the line?
Dr Caruana promptly replied that the two main band clubs of Victoria produce opera festivals every year; they can hardly be classified with other organisations.
This was what spurred Dr Gonzi to rise and reply that the government is considering other help to the band clubs, though perhaps not in the Vat area.
Drinking water
At present, Water Services has a supply of three days and three quarters of a day of drinking water in Malta and of five days and three quarter of a day in Gozo, Investments Minister Austin Gatt told Labour MP Noel Farrugia.
The minister refused to provide details of supplies of petrol, diesel and gas, saying this was a commercial activity. He insisted however there is more than enough for normal consumption.
Runway work
Malta Transport Authority (ADT) consultant Professor Muller has been allowed by ADT to do private work on condition ADT gets Lm35 for every hour he works. He will be giving his expert opinion on the paving of the runway and on the design and manufacturing of this paving, Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett told Labour MP Charles Buhagiar.
Traffic victims
1,140 persons were injured and 18 lost their lives in traffic accidents last year. So far this year, 323 were injured and three lost their lives, Justice Minister Tonio Borg told Labour MP Adrian Vassallo.
34 hotels closed down
No fewer than 34 hotels have closed down from 2001 till now: two were five-star, seven four-star, 14 three-star, nine two-star and two guest houses. During the same time, 16 new hotels opened: four five-star, seven four-star and five three-star. The number of licensed beds in December 2001 was 38,701 while in May this year, the number stands at 39,919, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told Dr Vassallo.
Tignè residents
Only one of the former Tignè residents has signed the contract to go back to Tignè, Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina told Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.
The others have raised objections regarding which parts of the building are to be considered as common property for whose upkeep they are responsible.
Xemxija Hill
Mr Mugliett said that at a width of 7.5 metres, the Xemxija Hill as reconstructed is considered safe for traffic as an all-purpose road and emergency vehicles can pass through the other cars.
Previously, the minister told Mr Bartolo, the road was a single lane all-purpose road with different widths and disorganised parking and a lack of pavements in certain parts.