The Labour Party has started publishing an itemised list of spending cuts which the government has as yet failed to make public.

Starting yesterday with the cuts related to the environment, agriculture and tourism, the party plans to give a breakdown of the spending cuts in all the sectors.

It said the government had failed to say, in detail, how it planned to cut November’s budget by €40 million as stipulated by the European Commission.

Labour sources said the information was obtained from reliable sources.

In numerical terms, the largest cuts were seen at the Malta Tourism Authority (€1.4 million), the solid waste management strategy (€500,000), the environmental upgrade committee (€200,000) and the agriculture support scheme (€200,000).

When it comes to percentages, the largest cuts were seen in the government’s climate change initiatives (60 per cent), the green leaders’ environmental initiatives (60 per cent) and electric cars initiatives (50 per cent). Labour spokesmen Leo Brincat, Gavin Gulia and Anthony Agius Decelis announced the list and condemned the government’s actions.

In a joint statement – which did not refer specifically to the details given by the Labour spokesmen – the tourism, environment, finance and resources and rural affairs ministries said the government’s decision to partially revise the Budget was taken to place the government in a position to act as necessary when confronted by risks posed by the international economic situation, which was offering big challenges. The government, they added, remained committed to implementing policies based on wise decisions in favour of the Maltese families, the protection of jobs and the strengthening of the Maltese economy despite obstacles put in place by the Opposition.

The ministries also referred at some length to the work and investments put into tourism, agricultural and infrastructural projects, the environment, solid waste management, alternative energy and agriculture.