Salvino. J. Sullivan (May 6) and others suggesting that Parliament be moved out of its present site at the Palace and moved to Fort St Elmo, show, we suspect, a total lack of awareness of various facts about St Elmo.

Firstly, this was, since its earliest days a military/defence location, and respect to history requires that its essential character as such be respected, even if one does not rule out improvements that, however, respect such a character. These are best epitomised in the Edinburgh Castle model for such types of historical buildings.

Secondly, the way the fort is constructed does not allow for the building within its present structures of a Parliament House without destroying its main features. Destroying St Anne Chapel, the ramparts on top, the barrack rooms/stores, the parade grounds, the old drill hall now serving the War Museum Society, the former military offices, the Abercrombie Curtain?

Thirdly, if the problem is where to house Parliament then - sincerely trying to be positive - various other carefully planned solutions can be put on the table for discussion.

Logical Phase or Step One would be that of moving all that is presently being done at the Mediterranean Conference Centre to the site of the former Royal Opera House, in what can certainly be turned into a first class auditorium/theatre/opera house, concert hall/arts centre.

While such a new Valletta face-saving building at its entrance would be constructed (hence carefully planned capital outlay from our hard-stretched national budget!) at a certain pace, Parliament can, for that duration, stay put. Then, once this new, hopefully glorious, Republic Street edifice is ready, the change of the Mediterranean Conference Centre to house Parliament and all its offices can next be proceeded with. And hence a Phase Two, again carefully planned budget expenditure.

Phase Three would be undertaken after Parliament has effectively started to operate from its new home in a modern building which would have a hall hopefully designed in a manner different to its present "boxing ring" configuration, and more spacious offices for the Speaker, staff and MPs. Then, and only then, should a start be made to redoing Fort St Elmo, with the respect it deserves as part of Malta's history, something which so many tourists and, yes, many Maltese love.