Parliament this evening approved the schedule it will follow for the Budget debate - if it gets past the first hurdle in the vote on Monday.

The Leader of the Opposition is due to reply to the Budget speech tomorrow  (6.30 pm Wednesday) and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will give his own reaction to Dr Muscat's speech on Monday. MPs will then be required to vote for the Budget to be debated in Committee of Supply - when the financial allocation of each ministry is discussed.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has said he will vote against on Monday, meaning that the debate will be called off and Parliament will be dissolved, heralding a general election within three months.

However, if the vote is positive on Monday, Parliament will follow the following schedule:

Tuesday, December 11: Education and Employment – seven hours, between 9.00am and 4.00pm.; Health, the Elderly and Community Care – four hours (5.30pm to 9.30pm);

Wednesday, December 12: Gozo – three hours (9.00am to noon); Infrastructure, Transport and Communications – four and a half hours (5.00pm to 9.30pm);

Friday, December 14: Resources and Rural Affairs – five hours (9.00am to 2.00pm); Tourism, Culture and the Environment  – four and a half hours (5.00pm. to 9.30p.m.);

Saturday, December 15: Justice, Dialogue and the Family – five hours (9.00am to 2.00pm);

Monday, December 17: Finance, the Economy and Investment – six hours (9.00am to 3.00pm); Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers – three hours (6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.);

Tuesday, December 18: Foreign Affairs – four and half hours (9.00am to 1.30pm); Prime Minister and Home Affairs – four hours  (5.30pm to 9.30pm);

Wednesday, December 19: Prime Minister and Home Affairs (continuation) – four hours  (9.00am to 1.00pm); and Prime Minister and Home Affairs (continuation)  and Appropriation Bill – three hours  (5.00pm to 8.00pm).