MLP to halve surcharge

The halving of the surcharge on water and electricity will be a priority for a new Labour government. So much so, it will take this step during its first week in office, Labour Party leader Alfred Sant said.

The cut in the surcharge meant lesser burdens on families and enterprise, while boosting competitiveness.

Addressing a political activity on the theme 'Plan for a new Start', Dr Sant said the reduction in the surcharge would also lighten the burden for businesses, which would increase sales since the consumer would have more money available.

Dr Sant said a Labour government would focus on priorities which it knew could be implemented.

Referring to the new Mater Dei Hospital, which he visited last week, Dr Sant said that it was important that the hospital be managed through an efficient plan so that it would not become a burden on the country.

The Labour leader said the MLP had insisted that the country needed a good general hospital, but it was critical of the delays and the fact that costs were allowed to spiral out of control.

Dr Sant said that, after an expense of Lm300 million, the people had every right to expect an enormous, state-of-the-art hospital. However, certain questions remain unanswered.

In a counter-statement referring to the surcharge, the Ministry for Investment and Industry said Dr Sant did not specify whether the reduction was on the surcharge before this was subsidised or after.

The ministry also noted that, until a month ago, Dr Sant was saying that he was removing the surcharge completely.

The ministry said that the government has already reduced the surcharge by a quarter of what it should be through the subsidy being forked out to compensate for the higher price of fuel.