ices did not have the information to calculate how much such social benefits cost.
He also explained that before a case was brought to court, the VAT Department would have been chasing the debtor for years and would have been ignored by the debtor.
Once judgment was handed down, there would be no possibility for the department to come to any alternative arrangement with the debtor.
Pills out of stock because of appeal
Simvastatin (Zocor) 20 mg pills came out of stock as a result of an appeal that has been pending before the Public Contracts Appeals Board since February 12, 2010, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said in reply to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Roderick Galdes.
Minister Cassar said that in the meantime, the Health Division’s Procurement Department had only been able to buy small amounts through departmental tenders or quotations as per legal regulations.
A new consignment should arrive in Malta from England by the end of this week, while another order is being processed.
Over 3,000 cases of domestic violence in 10 years
Between 2000 and to date in 2010 the police received a total of 3,096 reports of domestic violence, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said in reply to a parliamentary question by Helena Dalli (PL).
With 341, 450 and 543 respectively, the three full years of 2007, 2008 and 2009 saw the greatest number of reports.
44% increase in CO2 emissions
In 2008 Malta produced the equivalent of 2.952 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, an increase of 44.2 per cent over the 2.047 million tonnes of 1990.
The information was given by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in reply to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Charles Mangion.
2,000 cultural heritage sites
scheduled in 17 years
During the 17 years between 1994 and to date in 2010, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority scheduled a total of 2,072 sites of cultural heritage (buildings and archaeological). The authority is continuing to amass detailed inventories of sites meriting protection.
Answering a parliamentary question by Evarist Bartolo (PL), Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said it was not the practice for Mepa to divulge which properties were being proposed for protection, because of the damage that could be done to each property before scheduling and before their owners were notified.
There were currently 220 sites to be presented for approval by the end of the year.
Besides, there were 283 sites of natural value scheduled between 1994 and 2010, as well as three sites covering a total of six square kilometres to be proposed this year.
Two community-based flats for mental health patients were inaugurated by the government in what the Health Ministry said was a significant step for mental health.
The two flats, rented to Mount Carmel Hospital by the Housing Authority, give the four patients in each flat the space to live on their own.
“The way forward is to continue investing in the community,” the Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care, Mario Galea said.
Mr Galea reported that with the recent increase in community services, Mount Carmel had seen a “drastic” drop in its rate of admissions. Moreover, the length of hospital stays was also on the decline.
In another initiative aimed at taking patients outside the institution, two hostels run by Mount Carmel are already up and running, re-teaching former residents life skills they had forgotten while living there, some for over 20 years.
The four men at the new flats will be able to call Mount Carmel when problems arise and will be visited regularly by the “outreach” team, who will be able to monitor their progress.
Richmond Foundation, a non-government organisation, already owns a number of flats used by mental health patients but these were purchased by the foundation itself. It is expected that Richmond will also be granted government housing flats for the same purpose.
Community-based mental health services have expanded over the past few years with 12,000 persons benefitting from such facilities, which include day centres and home visits. About 100 professionals are working in the community with mental health patients.
Consultant psychiatrist David Cassar said: “There have been multiple new advancements in the mental health field. We are boosting our services in the community and like this we are reaching out, making it easier for people to access our services and even now our services have become more acceptable.”
He said this enabled patients to lead a normal life, which was the ultimate goal of the team involved.
“Statistics show that 33 per cent of people will suffer from a mental health problem in one year,” Dr Cassar said. “The stigma, however, is easing and people are accessing services earlier, which is very positive thing. Tolerance is also increasing and I feel that society at large is changing,” he said.