Known carcinogenic products should carry a levy with the revenue going into a fund for the treatment of cancer, Labour MP Deo Debattista told parliament this morning.

He insisted that hospital treatment should remain free for all, independently of their means.

However, with costs rising fast, not least for cancer treatment, he was suggesting this ringenced system to ease some of the financial pressure, he said.

In other parts of his speech Dr Debattista also suggested that the south-facing side of the Maghtab hill should be used as a farm for solar energy panels, thus putting to good use what was an environmental scar.