The self-employed owe the Inland Revenue Department a total of Lm5.1m for National Insurance dues from 1999 to 2006 while employers owe the department no less than Lm14.3m for the years 1998 to 2005, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Noel Farrugia.

Talking lot of rubbish

A jingle which was used on 106.6, the music radio channel owned by PBS, the same frequency on which parliamentary debates can be heard, and which claimed that DJs of competing stations talked ‘a lot of rubbish’, was withdrawn by the station after the PBS’s attention was drawn to it by the Broadcasting Authority, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Noel Farrugia.

More bus passengers

There has been an increase of around 0.5 million passengers on the bus service in the first four months of this year, Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett told Carmelo Abela.

Computer tender still

being processed

The general committee of the Contracts Department has approved the purchase of an Integrated Health Information System, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Labour MP Charles Mangion.

Dr Mangion had referred in his question to the contract which had been annulled because of an alleged abuse. He asked if such a tender was about to be awarded without a call for offers.

Dr Gonzi replied that an international consultant submitted to the government a list of companies which potentially could fit the bill and they were invited to submit their offer to the Contracts Department.

The committee will open the offers tendered and will submit its recommendations for the award of the contract. Its decisions will be published in the department and anyone who feels the decision went against him can appeal, as the law permits.

No MPs at prize giving

The Education Division is preparing a policy which states that at this stage, no MP or election candidate should be invited for the schools’ prize days or similar presentations, Education Minister Louis Galea told Labour MP Carmelo Abela.

Inquiry on IT tender at Enemalta

Investments Minister Austin Gatt, replying to a question by Labour MP Leo Brincat, confirmed he had asked for an inquiry into the award of an IT tender at Enemalta which was awarded to a company owned by the person who at that time was the Enemalta chairman. Dr Gatt said the inquiry is being carried out by the Attorney General.