Pre-budget document published: emphasis on training, health

A strong emphasis on education and health have been placed in the pre-budget document, published today by the Ministry of Finance.

Finance minister Tonio Fenech said that after the emphasis placed last year on safeguarding the economy in the face of a global economic crisis, the emphasis now was on the social aspect so that as the economy returned to growth, no one fell back.

Mr Fenech said Malta had managed to remain a competitive investment destination and, contrary to other countries, the government had had no need to raise taxes or cut services.

The sustainability of finances and deficit reduction remained among the government's priorities, he said, adding that it was no coincidence that Malta was one of only two countries in the EU which managed to narrow their deficit last year.He said that the deficit at the end of this year will be of 3.9%, as projected, and the government planned to reduce it to under 3% at the end of next year, a difference of about €50 million.

The government, he said, was making a number of proposals to strengthen its monitoring of spending across the public sector and bring about greater value for money.

He added that the government was considering a number of initiatives to ensure that employers found the trained workers they needed. These included further training schemes to encourage workers to train in new sectors.

Other schemes under consideration would encourage the private sector to introduce family-friendly measures and worker flexibility, thus encouraging more mothers to return to work.

A Working Group had also been set up to help companies seek new markets abroad. Particular emphasis was being placed on the creativity sector.

Mr Fenech said the pre-budget document discussed ways to consolidate and strength the funding of the health sector and the better use of human resources.

The document also proposed a Cancer Strategy which would include more screening programmes, a campaign against smoking, new investment in diagnostic and treatment services and the introduction of a PET scanner.

More funds would be allocated for anti-obesity measures. There will be a sexual health policy the launching of a dementia policy and renewed efforts to further reduce waiting lists.

A human resources development plan for this sector would be drafted and a training centre would be set up with assistance from the EU.

Assistance would also be given to those wishing to set up ICT-related industry in Gozo.

The pre-budget document is to be uploaded on www.finance.gov.mt

Comments can be sent to malta.budget@gov.mt">malta.budget@gov.mt or the Ministry of Finance, South Street, Valletta.