Opposition shadow minister for social solidarity Clyde Puli said that midway through the legislature the government’s social policy was “way off track”, lacking any sense of direction and coherence.

Although the government’s third budget included various new initiatives which could not be disagreed with, it offered no peace of mind that goals would be reached in time.

The strategy to eradicate poverty by the end of the legislature was still a Green Paper. Poverty was up by the thousands.

Pensioners were still getting 15 per cent less than the 60 per cent of the national median wage, and were labouring under new government-induced burdens shared by the lower middle class, Mr Puli said.

The living wage had not even been mentioned and the waiting list for St Vincent de Paule Residence had increased by 600.

In the social accommodation sector, not only were there some 3,000 on the waiting list but those already in such accommodation had had their rent increased by three or four times.

The truth was that poverty had reared its head in 2013, the government’s first year in power, with 99,000 – or almost a quarter of the population – in poverty or social exclusion.

The materially deprived were now severely so and had increased by 2,000.

Not all elderly people own a microwave

The numbers of those who could not afford home heating or nourishing meals had increased by 6,000 and 8,000 respectively.

Would those who simply did not want to work have their benefits stopped?

What plans did the government have to support these families?

Was this measure simply going to lead to more child care orders?

Mario Galea (PN) said that the elderly sector was woefully missing from this budget.

There was nothing about pensioners, active aging or dementia.

Mr Galea asked Dr Caruana to provide a list of concrete measures that the government would implement with regards to dementia.

What were the plans for day centres, night shelters or to increase the number of beds?

Mr Galea said that although the St Vincent de Paul Residence kitchen required upgrading, it was not the time-bomb described by the government.

In the past, the meals on wheels scheme cost about €4 per capita; at present it was more than €10.30. He asked whether it was true that the food would be served chilled and that people would be required to heat it in a microwave, noting that not all elderly persons owned a microwave.