The government and the opposition have had contacts on a possible date for the start of a debate on an opposition motion on the car parks privatisation plans.

The contacts were made ahead of another meeting of the House Business Committee today.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has said that he will move an amendment to the Opposition's motion turning it into a vote of no confidence in Transport Minister Austin Gatt. He also warned he would vote against the Budget if Dr Gatt was still in the Cabinet - although he later also said he would not back the government anyway because Dr Gatt should have left a long time ago.

Informed sources said there is a strong possibility of agreement on a date on a  Thursday late this month or in the first half of November - which would be close to, but before the presentation of the Budget.

The opposition had initially requested an urgent debate, but its request was turned down by the Speaker on Monday night, when he said in a ruling that in terms of standing orders, motions of this nature could only be put on the agenda of the House through agreement in the House Business Committee or by the Leader of the House. He therefore called on both sides to seek agreement on a date.

Standing Orders reserve sittings on alternate Thursdays for Opposition business, but that proviso has been superseded by a procedural motion on the conduct of business in the House, moved at the beginning of the parliamentary session in 2008.

In the current talks, the government is insisting that the House should approve legislation relating to the EU stability fund, IVF, cohabitation, and film and theatre productions classification before the Budget is presented, in the first half of next month.