Opposition Leader Alfred Sant told a social activity in Marsascala yesterday that Labour in government would work to correct the local factor which made the cost of living dearer. Nothing serious was being done to correct this, the Labour leader said.

Inflation was the main problem facing the country today. Though the rise in certain prices originated abroad, prices in Malta were rising more than they were doing in the EU.

The time of price controls was past, Dr Sant said. But this made it incumbent on them to ensure that there were no abuses.

This would be done through an office which every six months would submit a report about price movements in food, medicines and educational products and action would be taken where unjustified movements were shown to have taken place. The report would be available both for the government and the opposition.