Leader of the Oppositon Simon Busuttil announced a slew of increases to pensions at a press conference in Qrendi this morning.

The PN Leader pledged that his government would remove income tax off pensions.

"These people have contributed their whole lives."

This was a measure the PN had called for at last year's Independence Day meeting, Dr Busuttil said, and that the Labour government had included in the following Budget.

However, he insisted that he would promise that this would become reality.

A PN government would increase the National Minimum pensions to the level of minimum wage, Dr Busuttil pledged.

"This would provide 18000 pensioners with an increase from 147 Euro per week to 169 Euro per week, amounting to 8.5 million euro."

Those who had not paid all their pension contributions would be able to settle the difference prior to reaching pensions age in a stipulated time period.

Dr Busuttil also said that a PN government would raise the non-contributory pensions to 60% of the national average income. This means that the pension will increase €155.70  per week. This measure is set to cost €4.5 million.

Dr Busuttil also pledged that he would increase the pension allowance to €500 from €300, which he claims would benefit 27,800 pensions, costing €5.5 Million.

Should the PN get elected, Dr Busuttil announced that they would provide widows or widowers with the rights to take the full pensions of their husbands.

Currently, they take 5/6 of the pension.

He also announced his commitment to ensure that the pensions of the police and armed forces will also be subject to the cost of living adjustment.

The PN Leader went on to say that he would also address services pensions and would see pensioners over 80 earn a full service pension and a full non-contributory pension.

This would increase every five years from retirement age to 80 years.

The measure alone will cost €22 million.

Responding to questions from the press, he said that by eliminating corruption, specifically the large amount of positions of trust in the current administration, will free up funds for PN's proposals.

He also said that he would keep positions of trust to a 'bare minimum'.

The PN Leader was also asked whether he would introduce a capping system into the property market to stop rising prices, he maintained that the government believed in helping those who needed it most and not intervening in private enterprise.

Dr Busuttil was pressed as to whether or not Josie Muscat's inclusion on the PN ticket was an attempt to cash in on the far-right vote. He repeated that the Dr Muscat would follow the party line and that they were united in removing the current administration.