The Malta Labour Party has continued with its consultation programme on its plans for the family with meetings with the Cana Movement and the National Family Commission.

Labour leader Alfred Sant said that the MLP is putting the family as its focal point in its social policy. For the MLP, the family is a crucial unit, and with it, the MLP is linking the importance of protecting children.

The MLP plan on the family will still be open for debate even after it is approved by the party’s general conference to be held next month.

The Cana Movement was quoted in an MLP statement as having shown appreciation for the MLP’s initiative to draw up a plan on the family, and this showed that the party is giving great importance to the family. The movement raised several issues during the meeting, including the role of parents who are not employed and collaboration between the government and voluntary organisations.

The commission, for its part, said it generally accepted the MLP plan’s orientation. According to an MLP statement, it agreed with the party that a balance should be found between social and economic strength, and that the family should be given specific attention.