The Infrastructure Ministry has denied that it has any plans to introduce parking meters.

The issue was first raised in a report in a section of the media earlier this week and mentioned again this morning by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat. Dr Muscat said that when he first mentioned the possibility some months ago, he had been described as being a liar, but the issue had now also been raised in the media, which said trials were planned in Sliema and Hamrun.

The ministry said Dr Muscat would be better off if he checked his information first, such as with the (Labour) Mayor of Hamrun.

The ministry also defended the choice made in the granting of the tender for the power station extension. It said selected bid was the lowest to have been submitted and while Dr Muscat was claiming that power tariffs would rise, the equipment that was selected produced electricity with the lowest costs among all bids that were made. Parliamentary scrutiny had already confirmed that all tender procedures were followed correctly, the ministry said.