The Speaker of the House, Anglu Farrugia, said this evening that in terms of Standing Orders, he cannot order the House to hold a debate on fuel prices this Thursday, as requested by the Opposition.

Dr Farrugia was ruling at the request of Opposition whip David Agius who said that the Opposition was calling for the debate to be held this Thursday in line with Standing Orders which laid down that Opposition business should be debated on alternate Thursdays. He said the last sitting on a Thursday had discussed government business.

In his ruling Dr Farrugia referred to various rulings by Speakers Louis Galea, Michael Frendo and himself and said it was the government’s prerogative to set the agenda of the House.

However, when the House was adjourned for a Thursday, Opposition MPs had a right to present their business for debate, on alternate Thursdays.

Therefore, if Parliament was adjourned for this Thursday, the Opposition could move its motion.

However the Chair could not order a sitting to be held this Thursday.

He noted that the House of Commons also laid down in its Orders that Government business shall have precedence, but a fixed number of days were reserved for the opposition parties. In Malta there was no established number of Opposition Days.

The Chair was not happy with current arrangements and was calling for matters to be improved, but in current circumstances, it could not uphold the Opposition request, Dr Farrugia said.

He also noted that the government has offered to hold the debate next Monday.