Labour leader Joseph Muscat this evening welcomed a statement by the Church Environment Commission which, he noted, had proposed a separation of the environment and planning functions of Mepa, something which Labour is also proposing.

(See Church commission statement at http://maltadiocese.org/lang/en/news/memorandum-by-the-interdiocesan-commission-for-the-environmentmemorandum-mill-kummissjoni-interdjocesana-ambjent/ )

Planning reform was on Dr  Muscat's agenda when he sat down with small-time contractor Paul Mangion and his family at their Swatar home.

Dr Muscat said Labour's proposal to split the authority's planning and environmental functions would reduce bureaucracy for people applying for building permits but strengthen environment protection.

He told Mr Mangion the construction industry could not be allowed to do as it pleased but the permit process would be made faster.

The Labour leader said environment protection would be improved because the environment authority would have a vote on the planning board, green groups would get to nominate a board member and local councils would  also have the right to vote on large projects in their locality.

Journalists were allowed in for the first few minutes of the meeting, which did not last very long.

In a quick exchange with 20-year-old Neil, an electronics student at Mcast, Dr Muscat urged him to further his studies and specialise.

Neil, the Mangions’ youngest child - they also have a 22-year-old daughter Cherise - said it was hard to continue studying beyond his course term while earning a pittance in apprenticeship money.

"It pays you for your future to continue specializing," Dr Muscat told him.