Updated with amendments:

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening challenged Joseph Muscat and the Opposition to report any allegations of corruption in the power station extension contract to the police commissioner, if they truly believed them.

Replying to questions by Charlon Gouder in an animated interview on the Granaries in Floriana, Dr Gonzi said that while he, as prime minister, could not go into the work of the Contracts Committee, should he have to go through the same process of investigations again, he would not do anything different.

The Auditor General had found no evidence of corruption, and he respected that report, Dr Gonzi said. The Opposition should be doing the same. And if the Opposition truly believed its allegations, it should go to the Police Commissioner.

Replying to questions on legislation on party funding, Dr Gonzi criticised the Opposition for having walked out of the parliamentary select committee which was discussing this and other issues.

He said that he found it irresponsible of Dr Muscat to have indicated (this morning) that the government could go ahead on its own, even on a subject such as this. However, Dr Gonzi said, once the Opposition was not giving its contribution, the government would have no alternative. In this context, Dr Gonzi said he welcomed suggestions made by Nationalist MP Franco Debono.

INVESTIGATION AT ARMS LTD

On the poor service given by Arms Ltd, the agency responsible for the processing of bills for water and electricity, Dr Gonzi said he agreed that a public apology for the poor service was not enough.

He said the government was holding an investigation to establish if anyone could be held responsible for what had happened.

At the same time, urgent action was in hand to improve matters. Not only was Arms moving to more central and better equipped offices at Blata l-Bajda, but its services would also be offered through offices in various localities, mostly hosted by local councils.