Speaking at Naxxar this morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat emphasised the social aspects of the Budget.

For the third time, he said, the government has presented to the people a Budget that will enable it to continue to grow.

In previous times (ie PN times) the Budget used to be determined by whether an election was looming or had just passed. This is not the way PL sees politics: it sees Budgets from an economics point of view, in terms of a long-term vision.

The Budget will not introduce taxes during the year and electricity rates have been cut and kept down. This means something like €80 million for families and citizens. It rewards hard work.

The Budget implements what the PN administration announced but could not then implement - cuts in Income Tax.

It also promotes social mobility even through such measures as allow and promote the reconstruction of houses in the Urban Conservation areas.

It promotes social justice, whereas PN governments forgot the elderly. The ideal would be for the pensions to be 60% of the average wage but experts say 12 years are needed to reach that target. For 20 years pensions had not been increased. This government has begun the long road: some will get €4 a week more and some €8.

Another social benefit is the in-work benefit whereby last year €1000 were given for every child where the parents go out to work. This year, in a measure that targets 7,700 families, children in families where only one parent works are being given a further €150 per week per child.

Housing will be available to those who need it, PM said, putting the accent on 'those who need it'. €50 million have been set aside for this project.

It is through work that one can escape from poverty, and through education.

The government is adopting a carrot and stick approach to problems such as to the probklem of dilapidated buildings, and has taken steps to simplifiy matters in case of inheritance squabbles.

This government is a pro-business one. As regards tourism, Dr Muscat said he was pleased with the reaction of MHRA to the Budget including to the bed night tax (€0.50 per night) which MHRA agreed will not undermine Malta's competitiveness. Its only problem is how to collect this tax.

Dr Muscat also referred to GRTU and its stand on eco-tax giving as an example the tax on plastics.

One other aspect of the Budget is the unprecedented number of PPPs suggested sudh as that for the restoration of the 'Midnight Express' part of St Elmo. He praised the PN administration for restoring other old buildings but said that thiose whio were not used have begun to fall in neglect once again.

As regards infrastructure, the next big project is the Kappara Junction upgrade which will start in some weeks' time. Of course, this will lead to further traffic jams during the works but the works need to be done. Otherwise, one leaves everything as is. After the Kapparqa Junction, it will be the turn of the Marsa junction.

Dr Muscat expressed concern about the huge construction project at St George's Bay where three big projects will be on at the same time. Work here will last for seven years and the government is intervening to help expedite matters such as allowing barges to carry waste rather than have trucks pollute the roads. There must be cooperastion between all involved, including Mepa.

Another big project announced by the Budget is the €56 million new ITS so that more Maltese select tourism as their career.

The last Budget item to be mentioned by the PM was the pilot project which aims to keep the elderly at home rather than go to homes for the elderly, regarding which, he said, huge interest has been aroused.

Previously, Silvio Parnis jibed that Simon Busuttil needs to pedal hard if he is ever to catch up with this government. He claimed that the previous PN administration promised to redo the Paola Square when it knew it was about to lose the election. The Pace Grasso ground will become one big health centre.

Minister Owen Bo0nnici said this gogvernment took office when the economy was not passing through good times, when unemployment had begun to rise and when energy bills were sky high and has reversed the situation.