Budget programme

The House of Representatives yesterday approved a motion by Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg setting out the budget debate timetable.

The Budget will be presented next Monday. Opposition leader Alfred Sant gives his reaction on the following Monday and Dr Gonzi will reply on October 24.

The financial allocations for the respective ministries will be debated between October 25 and November 2 when the House will hold two sittings every day.

The following is the approved programme:

October 25: Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs (a.m.) and Ministry for Education, Youth and Employment (p.m.);

October 26: Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment (a.m.) and Ministry for Competitiveness and Communication (p.m.);

October 29: Ministry for Family Affairs and Solidarity (a.m.) and Ministry for Resources and the Infrastructure (p.m.);

October 30: Ministry for Gozo (a.m.) and Ministry for Foreign Affairs (p.m.);

October 31: Ministry for Tourism and Culture (a.m.) and Ministry for Health (p.m.);

November 1: Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology (a.m.) and Ministry for Urban Development and Roads (p.m.);

November 2: Officer of the Prime Minister (two sittings) and at 9.30 p.m. Appropriation Bill.