Vouchers for energy-saving bulbs in mid-June, PM says

Vouchers for the free energy-saving bulbs that were promised by the government and meant to start being distributed by the end of this month would probably be handed out mid-June, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

The vouchers were printed but some outlets needed more time to stock up on bulbs, he said during a press conference held as part of the MEPs election campaign.

"We don't want anyone thinking that handing out the vouchers is an electoral gimmick," Dr Gonzi added.

The bulbs had been promised before the March 2008 general election and, since then, people have been questioning what happened to this bright idea.

Earlier this month, Dr Gonzi had said the distribution of vouchers was to start by the end of this month. He said the process to register importers and distributors was now completed and the vouchers would be distributed in localities and exchanged for the bulbs.

The government said earlier this year that up to one million bulbs would be handed out. Households of one or two persons would receive five bulbs, those of three or four people would receive eight and larger households would receive 10.