The government is planning to allocate enough funds in the Budget to pay compensation to all those people whose properties were expropriated over the years, when the value of the property does not exceed €50,000, the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Michael Falzon, has disclosed.

He made the announcement on the TV discussion programme Reporter amid criticism that Mark Gaffarena had been quickly given compensation for the expropriated part of a property in Old Mint Street, while other landowners have been waiting for years. Some have been waiting as much as 60 years, Dr Falzon said.

Shadow minister Jason Azzopardi, who also took part in the programme, recalled how a record amount had been issued as compensation for expropriated properties while he was minister responsible for lands and said the government's new scheme would not lead the people to forget the current scandal.

Mr Gaffarena was given €1.65 million in land and cash earlier this year for the government to acquire half ownership of a Valletta property in Old Mint Street. The deal was documented in two contracts, in which Mr Gaffarena was given parcels of land where he had strategic or commercial interests.