The Family and Social Solidarity Ministry emphasised that contrary to what Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca had stated, the government was confirming its commitment to exempt families in difficult situations from the electricity surcharge.

Minister Dolores Cristina recently gave details in Parliament regarding the new energy benefit which the government will be launching in April. Following the extensive exercise carried out to ensure the impact on various sectors of society, Minister Cristina expanded on details of this new benefit in Parliament. She reiterated the commitment taken in the budget for 2007, that while there were currently 13,000 households which were automatically receiving an exemption on surcharge costs, the number of households which would be able to avail themselves of this new benefit would be closer to 30,000.

The new energy benefit would help all those families currently receiving benefits and which are low income earners. The benefit, which will take the form of a voucher, will be received by households to be redeemed with their water and electricity bills and will be backdated to 1 January 2007.

Minister Cristina was very clear in explaining that the overwhelming majority of these beneficiaries will not have to apply, thanks to the investment in technology which allows for the intelligent use of already available data.