Economy Minister Chris Cardona told Parliament yesterday the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill provided for a mechanism through which the government could proceed to evict certain individuals from State-owned land without the need for lengthy proceedings.

Dr Cardona said the Bill provided clear guarantees to persons faced with eviction: they would be able to institute a special summary proceeding to stop the government from going ahead with the eviction.

The procedures would be applied in cases of abuse of government land. They did not apply with regard to real rights such as emphyteusis.

There was also a guarantee in place to make good for expenses in case of abuse.

The idea behind the amendments was to maximise the little industrial space available, not only in terms of space but also in terms of time.

They would also simplify the process by which the government could reclaim its land.

Dr Cardona said there were a number of government properties where the occupants were blatantly breaching conditions and where all attempts to reach some form of agreement had been exhausted.