The Malta Resources Authority was auditing the mechanism Enemalta used to arrive at the new energy tariffs, Resources Minister George Pullicino told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during the budget debate, Mr Pullicino reiterated the government's commitment to alternative energy.

He said an application would shortly be submitted to Mepa for an outline development permit for the building of a wind farm on Is-Sikka l-Bajda (opposite Għadira) by the private sector. Studies were continuing and it was estimated that this wind farm could generate the equivalent of 80 percent of the energy used by Gozo, or four per cent of the total electricity demand.

The granting of energy saving light bulbs by the government would neutralise much of the increase in electricity tariffs.

Dr Pullicino announced that households with up to two persons would receive five energy saving bulbs; those with up to four persons would be given eight bulbs and households with more than five persons would be given 10.

The government was also taking other measures, such as subsidies on insulation works and investment in solar heaters and photovoltaics.

The government had to raise the eco-tax on all plastic carrier bags because it was very difficult to differentiate between degradable and non-degradable bags.

The separation of waste was continuing to gain momentum. This year, 10,000 tonnes of recyclable waste would be collected, three times more than last year.

Referring to a comment by opposition leader Joseph Muscat last Monday - when he criticised the government for dumping waste water in the sea - Mr Pullicino said much of the waste water that was being produced by the treatment plant in Mellieħa was unsuitable for the watering of trees because of high salinity content.

When he spoke on public works, Mr Pullicino said contractors would be classified so that tenders would be issued according to such classifications.

Work on the rehabilitation of Xatt is-Sajjieda in Marsaxlokk would be taken in hand early in the New Year together with another extension of the parks at Ta' Qali and Salina. A new park would be developed at Delimara.

A countryside rehabilitation programme would be taken in hand and the minister said he was determined to ensure that countryside boundary walls were not so high as to block out the view for those who drove by.

There would also be works on bastions and historic buildings, particularly the façade of the Auberge de Castille, St John's Co-Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, all in Valletta.

Work has started on an after-care centre for animals at Ta'Qali.

In the agriculture sector a herd improvement programme had been launched and would see a gradual replacement of all cows.

Earlier, Philip Mifsud (PN) said the environmental measures taken in the budget must be seen in the context of what was happening on the international scene. However, this was not the first PN budget when the environment was given such importance. The closure of landfills, waste separation and civic amenity sites were but three projects undertaken successfully.

The budget underscores an investment of €90 million for the environment, €61 million for projects and €30 million in alternative energy sources. Other funds were earmarked for the industrial and the domestic sectors. There was also an ambitious offshore wind farm project. The government was also overhauling the transport system.

In real terms, these measures would cut down the amount of carbon dioxide spewed into the atmosphere.

Around 50,000 trees have been planted and more would be planted at Għajn Tuffieħa this weekend.

Farmers were now more knowledgeable in the use of pesticides and the government was giving out additional incentives. More assistance would be given to the agricultural sector through the EU Rural Development Programme - €100 million in direct assistance alone

Mr Mifsud called on Mepa to put on the fast track applications by farmers that are still pending because otherwise, they would lose out on certain EU subsidy schemes.

Restoration was well under way at the Addolorata Cemetery and Romeo Romano Gardens in Sta Venera.

Nationalist MP Charlo Bonnici said the environmental measures were not taken for financial gain. The government wanted to set an example as some were not yet convinced of the importance of these measures.

The provision of energy saving bulbs was more of a symbolic gesture. It was not meant to compensate for the higher prices, but aimed to change people's mentality. The plastic bag initiative had the same aim: people had to get used to taking non-plastic bags with them when shopping. Hopefully, as the opposition leader said, plastic bags would eventually die out.

St Benedict and St Ignatius colleges had saved considerable amounts in water and electricity through alternative energy measures.

The large number of cars on the roads is an overdrawn problem and the new measures aimed to do something about this. People would now consider all aspects when buying a car. Larger vehicles, such as buses and trucks, also had to be looked into. The position of hybrid cars ought to be clarified. Spaces to park bicycles must be created and bicycle hire introduced.

The waste separation campaign was gaining ground and was achieving results.

The government had allocated €100,000 for an animal welfare centre at Ta' Qali and €300,000 for animal welfare.

Franco Debono (PN) said the budget was meant to instil a complete change in people's mentality in favour of the environment.

A substantial number of companies had registered with the Malta Financial Services Authority to provide environmentally-friendly services. He believed a number of green jobs could be created in Malta.

Dr Debono invited the minister to plant more trees in the southeast of the island, particularly at Delimara and Xrobb l-Għaġin.

Edwin Vassallo (PN) said two words in this budget stood out: responsibility and sustainability. Sustainable, responsible decisions must be taken, for success to follow. If one was ready to listen and improve, there was a lot to be learnt from the past.

Speaking of farming and fishing, Mr Vassallo said the main thing that worried people was their relationship with the processors. In a situation where demand and supply changed, the processors sometimes changed the price they paid farmers. The system, not the ministry, tended to protect the processor, to the detriment of the farmer, who produced things under the impression he would be paid a certain price which he didn't always get. The system ought to afford the farmer more protection.

The organisation at the wholesale vegetable market, Il-Pitkalija, he said, was another issue. He had heard allegations that some foreign produce was still being sold as local and the matter should be looked into. One must also look at the opening times of the centre.

The Producers' Organisation had to ensure more entrepreneurial training of farmers and fishermen, as ultimately these were businessmen.

People were charging hefty sums for the filling of applications for EU funds by farmers.

Mr Vassallo said the collection of eco contributions should not be the responsibility of the VAT or the income tax department, as this was not a tax. Also, the ministry had to be prepared to listen not only to its own experts but also to others and to test measures on the market.

It was important to keep up maintenance rather than continuously starting new projects. Attention was needed to the public toilets in Valletta and pavements in Sliema.

The ministerial votes were approved after a division.