The Speaker of the House of Representatives this evening rejected an Opposition call for the House to be adjourned to Thursday to debate an Opposition motion calling on the government to withdraw its support for the underground extension of the museum of St John’s Co-Cathedral.

The request was made by Opposition whip Joe Mizzi, who pointed out that in terms of Standing Orders, the House was due to meet next Thursday to consider Opposition business.

The Prime Minister and Social Policy Minister John Dalli opposed the request, pointing out, among other things, that the House programme had been agreed by the House Business Committee, and that seven days notice was required for consideration of the motion.

The Speaker, after suspending the sitting for some 45 minutes, ruled that ordinarily, the House passed a procedural motion at the beginning of the legislature which over-ruled the standing order referred to by Mr Mizzi. No such procedural motion had been passed at the opening of this legislature.

In practice, however, the House met every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and opposition motions were programmed and debated by agreement.

Although the House was governed by its Standing Orders, the most recent Standing Order applied, and in this case, a more recent Order had established the House Business Committee and tasked it with planning the programme of the House.

The Committee had set out its programme for this week, and that programme should therefore be followed, Dr Galea said.