An old patrol boat which will be called Wenzu is soon to be scuttled to join the old boat Rozi on the seabed off Cirkewwa, thus renewing the old Wenzu u Rozi of legendary fame.

Environment Minister George Pullicino told Labour MP Evarist Bartolo that the government agrees that artificial reefs should have a 200 metre fishing-free zone around them so that instances such as the recent one whereby a fisherman dangled his nets around the Rozi and thus imperilled divers would not be repeated.

Taxi driver suspended

The taxi driver who was allegedly drunk while on duty, left people waiting at Mdina when he was supposed to be on a tour with them, and fought with two authority officials has had his tag taken and is suspended until the court case in his regard is over, Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett told Labour MP Angelo Farrugia.

Castille glass door

Information regarding the new glass door (antiporta) that was fixed at Castille’s door last summer is still being collected, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Stefan Buontempo.

In-patient beds and day beds

There are 859 in-patient beds at St Luke’s Hospital and there will be 804 at Mater Dei. There are 63 day beds at St Luke’s and there will be 107 of these at Mater Dei, Health Minister Louis Deguara told Labour MP Chris Agius.

Oldest ambulance dates from 1995

Three of the 13 ambulances in Malta date back to 1995 when they were purchased as new but a further four which were bought second hand from the UK in 2000 may be older.

Health Minister Louis Deguara gave out information regarding the ambulances in reply to Mr Agius’ question.

MIP repossesses 35 factories

The Malta Industrial Parks has taken repossession of 35 factories being used by 24 companies during last year, Investments Minister Austin Gatt told Labour MP Leo Brincat.

Unlicensed cars

A total of 21,840 cars have not had their licences renewed, Mr Mugliett told Labour MP Silvio Parnis.

Cash back

The number of people who applied to get cash back from their purchase of white goods as announced in last year’s Budget has only been of 468, Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit told Mr Bartolo.

However the minister blamed this small number on the importers’ delay in registering their products as the Legal Notice insisted and as agreed with the importers’ representatives.

The Legal Notice establishes a maximum of Lm25 in the case of washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and air-conditioning units and a maximum of Lm50 for fridges and freezers where they are energy saving.

European charter on mammograms

Justyne Caruana told the Health Minister the waiting list for mammograms is too long and many women are risking being diagnosed with cancer as a result. She asked Minister Deguara what the government is doing in this regard.

Dr Deguara replied that mammography is never the solution in such cases. He added the government is implementing the plan indicated by the European Charter so that by 2015, all that it recommends will be in place.

All patients referred on suspicion of breast cancer are given precedence with regard to mammograms.

‘Vertigo’ and Where’s Everybody

Carmelo Abela asked Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech what kind of contract there is between Where’s Everybody or any of its associated or subsidiary companies and the Maltasong Board regarding the production and sale of the music video of Vertigo as CD and DVD.

Mr Abela also asked how much Where’s Everybody asked for in return for the song’s rights. He also asked why companies and outlets which asked to sell the CD and DVD of the song were not given permission by Where’s Everybody.

The minister promised a reply in some other sitting.

Applications for inspector posts

There were 63 applications for the posts of inspectors in the Police Corps when applications closed on 13 April, Justice Minister Tonio Borg told Mr Abela. Thirty-eight applications were by Police Corps members and 25 by outsiders.

TEFL teachers

A total of 2,251 persons have a permit for teaching English to foreign students, Education Minister Louis Galea told Mr Abela.