Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said this evening that more than €20 million would be included in Malta’s coffers from the Investment Registration Scheme which closed in November and which had been administered by the Central Bank.

Speaking during the Budget debate, he said that more funds from another scheme would be added to the country’s coffers later, reducing Malta’s debt further.

The minister also pointed out that for every job that had increased in the public sector, another five were added in the private. There was also a 2,500 net increase in the number of people whose sole job was part time.

He said that the European Commission accepted Malta’s Budget as is without the country being requested to make any changes as had happened in January 2012.

The minister also spoke on public transport saying that unlike the reform introduced by the previous government, which had been characterised by long queues at bus stops and an operator that was forced to leave because of mounting debts, this government was working to have a service that would meet the aspirations of the Maltese.

On Enemalta, he said the agreement the government would be signing soon had placed Enemalta in a position to start paying its debts and further reduce its tariffs.