The Government has no position on the spring hunting referendum being proposed by a number of organisations, Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights, Roderick Galdes, said this morning.

Speaking during a press conference on Budget measures related to his secretariat, Mr Galdes said that while he respected those who were collecting signatures for a referendum to be held, the government had a clear mandate on the issue.

Mr Galdes was also asked about the Centru San Frangisk animal hospital. He said that a scientific survey was carried out to see what people felt about the service being given.

Tthe data collected in the survey was currently being analysed and this would then be followed by talks with the operators to change what needed to be changed.

The Parliamentary Secretary said he still believed that the fees being charged by the centre were exorbitant.

He announced that a call for expressions of interest for a new management of the pitkali was to be issued soon.