Economic Services Minister Chris Cardona this evening denied that any talks had been held with Barts Medical School before the general election, saying the talks only started some 13 months ago.
Replying to supplementary parliamentary questions by Nationalist MP Claudio Grech and Anthony Agius Decelis (PL), the minister said that what had been signed so far was a Memorandum of Understanding, with the commitments having been confirmed by the presence in Malta of senior officials from Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
He confirmed that the deal will include the transfer of government land to Barts in Gozo but said it was not clear whether the transfer would be by parliamentary resolution or through use of the Public Procurement law.
Mr Grech said the government had said this was a done deal. So what method had been agreed for the transfer of land?
Dr Cardona said it may be the case that immovable property would not be transferred to Barts after all, but they would be the operators of the investment they would make, meaning the procedure for land transfer would not need to be resorted to. But if this agreement - a done deal - led to actual transfer of government-owned property there were various methods which could be adopted, such as parliamentary resolution. The two parties to the agreement would decide on the procedure.
Mr Grech said that once this was a done deal, where would the new Barts medical school operate from? He understood this was different from the Request for Proposals made last week.
Dr Cardona said the two were separate but linked as they would lead to investment. The questions Mr Grech had been put would be answered shortly, but the replies would have no bearing on the fact that Barts were committed to an investment of €200 million and placements.
Dr Cardona stressed that this deal would promote Malta's attractiveness as an investment destination.
Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi observed that the government had mentioned a Memorandum of Understanding with Barts in November and now the minister said the MoU was signed last week.
Dr Cardona said that what happened in November was the announcement that talks were being held with Barts and were in advanced stage.
Mr Grech asked how much of the €200m investment would be invested by Barts in the new medical school.
Dr Cardona said the investment in new facilities would be of €200 million.
In the original, written, written reply Dr Cardona described the deal as an 'agreement' which would lead to Barts establishing themselves in Gozo. He said this investment formed part of a €200 million investment that the governemnt would be making in the health sector.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140212/local/hospital.506524