The CVA (Valletta Controlled Vehicle Access system) has had a substantial positive impact on the business community in Valletta, as shown by the fact that the average number of cars entering the city every month has risen to 70,000 different vehicles, compared to 33,000 before the system was introduced.

"Thanks to the new system, we have managed to pull out of Valletta those vehicles which used to be parked there all day long. We thus created space for more cars to enter the capital," Transport Minister Austin Gatt said in reply to a parliamentary question.

"Similarly, the Park and Ride facility has been a government investment which has provided a solution for people who need to go to Valletta for a relatively long time."

Dr Gatt said the Transport Authority pays CVA Technology Ltd €150,000 per month for the operation of the CVA system. A total of €4.2 million have been paid so far, with another €763,942 pending.

The Park and Ride system has so far cost the government €2 million. The government has also lost €1.4 million in revenue it used to get from 'V' vehicle licences, which were discontinued when payments under the CVA scheme were introduced.

Earlier this month, Dr Gatt said in reply to another question in parliament that the government raked in €2.1 million from the from the CVA system between May 2007 and the end of August 2009.

The total included €492,608 in late payment fees.