The Government and Opposition yesterday failed to agree on discussion time for the Budget, which has been proposed for November 4.

Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech said this was an indicative date, with the Leader of the Opposition making his criticism to the Budget Speech a week later, on November 11, and the Prime Minister delivering his reply a day after.

Speaking during a House Business Committee meeting, Mr Grech proposed that parliamentary discussion on the financial votes of the 15 ministries would be held over five days, with three sittings a day, giving Government and Opposition 90 minutes debating time on each ministry.

But Opposition Deputy Leader Mario de Marco said more time had to be allotted to discussion on certain ministries.

Opposition Whip David Agius said that it was not humanly possible to hold three three-hour sittings in a day. He also insisted that there had to be time for questions and the adjournment.

Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia remarked that in the past there were occasions when two long sittings of four hours each had been held. He said that it was common practice for the two sides to shelve question time and the adjournment during Budget debates.

Government Whip Carmelo Abela said the two sides had always been in agreement on this matter.

On another matter, Mr Grech proposed that Parliament starts debating the Civil Unions Bill next Monday.

Mr Agius, however, insisted that the PN’s parliamentary group needed more time to examine the Bill. He said that if the debate started on Monday, the Opposition would only have had one week to consider the Bill. It was being discussed by its parliamentary group with another meeting scheduled for next Wednesday.

He said the PN group would make its position on the issue public after it concluded its internal discussion.

Mr Grech replied that since both sides seemed to agree on the principles of the Bill, it could be brought up for discussion, with more time given for discussing it in detail, at committee stage.

Dr de Marco and Mr Agius also insisted that Parliament should first discuss the Private Member’s Bill proposed by Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg. The Speaker said the agreement in the Committee had been that the Civil Unions Bill would be debated first if it was published.

The two sides have still to agree on a date when the Bill will be discussed.

Meanwhile it was agreed that the Parliamentary Privilege Committee would meet at the end of the month to discuss the procedures to be adopted in considering the prima facie breach of privilege against Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil.

Mr Speaker also informed the committee that Chief Electoral Commissioner Salvu Gauci had presented him with a proposal by the Electoral Commission.

The commission was suggesting that general election and European Parliament election laws be amended so that elderly people residing in old people’s homes belonging to the Government, the Church and the private sector would be allowed to vote there. It was agreed that the item would be discussed in detail at the next committee meeting.

Dr Farrugia proposed that the two whips seek agreement with Public Accounts Committee chairman Tonio Fenech to hold extra meetings on other matters while the PAC hearings on the Auditor General’s report regarding purchase of oil by Enemalta continue under chairman Jason Azzopardi.

The Speaker said Mr Fenech had called for a PAC meeting on Tuesday when the same committee would also be meeting on Monday and Wednesday.

Mr Abela said he could not find substitute members for the Tuesday meeting due to other commitments of MPs on the Government side, while wanting to avoid having ministers attend PAC meetings where possible. Mr Abela agreed with the Opposition whip’s proposal that the PAC draw up a plan of action and that the two chairmen coordinate their work.

A Government proposal to hold parliamentary sittings between 5pm and 8pm in the evening once a week was dropped after the Opposition said the time should remain between 6pm and 9pm for the convenience of all MPs.

Dr de Marco said that MPs employed in the private sector would find it difficult to leave work earlier than 5pm.

Mr Abela said the intention had been to change the time of the parliamentary sitting once a week on trial up to December. The Government wanted to introduce this family friendly measure not only for MPs but also for employees of the House of Representatives.

Dr Farrugia announced that a Chinese parliamentary delegation would visit Malta next week.

Parliamentary Questions

Post-school study at a high

Eighty-three per cent of 17-year-old students carried on studying after completing compulsory education, research carried out by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education has shown.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo gave the information in reply to a parliamentary question by Clyde Puli (PN).

He said the remaining 17 per cent were partly attributable to the fact that they were not registered with institutions that had taken part in the research.

The commission was therefore not in a position to pinpoint the decline in the number of “early school leavers”, as Mr Puli had asked.

Hundreds on scholarship

A total of 327 applicants have been granted scholarships to continue their studies at Master’s level under the MASTER It! scheme.

Replying to a PQ by Deo Debattista (PL), Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said the applicants had been able to apply under nine prior-ity sectors.

High-end manufacturing had attracted 26 applications, life sciences 51, educational services 60 and financial services 57.

Seven had applied for transportation and advanced logistics, 15 for higher quality tourism, 47 for creative industry, 41 for environment and 23 for ICT.

Dog fight denied

Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia has denied that two search and rescue dogs belonging to the Civil Protection Department had been badly injured during a fight and were no longer up to the mark for their role.

The allegation was made by Jason Azzopardi (PN), who claimed the dog section superior officer had taken no steps to prevent the fight and later ended up beating the dogs with a broom to separate them. Dr Mallia said the dogs had been examined and certified by a vet and following treatment for the bites they had suffered, had been returned to service and also used on TV programmes, including on Net TV.

Police vacancies

Two assistant commissioners, three superintendents and six inspectors are among the 126 vacancies in the police corps and steps are being taken to fill them.

There are also two posts of sergeant major 1, 12 of sergeant major 2, 36 of sergeants and 65 of constables.

Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia gave the information in reply to a parliamentary question by Jason Azzo-pardi (PN).

Cleaner energy

A total of 5,936 families have installed photovoltaic panels, while 7,925 installed solar water heaters.

The information was given by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi in reply to a parliamentary question by Charles Buhagiar (PL).

Answering another PQ by Mr Buhagiar, Dr Mizzi said that May 13 had seen the launching of an aid scheme for the installation of roof insulation and double glazing.

The number of families that had been given a grant was 131 and 68 respectively.