The government has refuted Labour's claim that the former St Luke's Hospital incinerator is still operational.

The claim was made by Labour spokesman for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Leo Brincat, who used a photo of the chimney stack as evidence.

The government said the photographed black smoke was emitted occasionally when boilers in the building were switched over from one to another.

As a result of switching over usage, oil would accumulate and be burnt off all at once, causing the black smoke. This would stop once the flame within the boiler stabilised.

It said technology currently in use at the hospital would eventually be substituted with more modern technology and the chimney stack would not have to be used anymore.

The Times yesterday erroneously reported that the government had not reacted to Labour's claims on Monday. In fact, it made the statement above.