Parliament yesterday approved a motion moved by the Finance Minister regulating the Budget debate schedule.

It starts today with the speech by the Leader of the Opposition, continues on Monday with the Prime Minister’s reply and ends on December 19 with the Appropriation Bill put to the vote after 8pm.

The first vote will be taken on Monday after the Prime Minister’s reply.

The votes of the ministries would be discussed as follows:

Tuesday: Education and Employment – seven hours, between 9am and 4pm; Health, the Elderly and Community Care – four hours (5.30pm to 9.30pm);

December 12: Gozo – three hours (9am to noon); Infrastructure, Transport and Communications – four-and a-half hours (5.00pm to 9.30pm);

December 14: Resources and Rural Affairs – five hours (9am to 2pm); Tourism, Culture and the Environment – four-and-a-half hours (5pm to 9.30pm.);

December 15: Justice, Dialogue and the Family – five hours (9.00am to 2.00pm);

December 17: Finance, the Economy and Investment – six hours (9am to 3pm); Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers – three hours (6.30pm to 9.30pm);

December 18: Foreign Affairs – four-and-half hours (9am to 1.30pm); Prime Minister and Home Affairs – four hours (5.30pm to 9.30pm);

December 19: Prime Minister and Home Affairs (continuation) – four hours (9am to 1pm); and Prime Minister and Home Affairs (continuation) and Appropriation Bill – three hours (5pm to 8pm).