Marie Louise Coleiro-Preca, Labour Party spokesperson for social solidarity, and Silvio Parnis, spokesman for the elderly, said it was good that the Lm1.50 cost of living increase would be paid in full to the elderly.

But, they said, they were disappointed that the elderly at St Vincent de Paul home and other government-run homes would be getting only 30c of the Lm1.50 increase. This was because the government retained 80 per cent of their pension as payment for their stay and care at the homes. The result was that the elderly either had to do without necessities or these were made good for by family members.

The two spokespersons said that as Labour leader Alfred Sant had promised, Labour in government would not only pay cost of living increases in full to the elderly, these would contribute 65 per cent, not 80 per cent of their pension.