The Labour Party said today that the government was raising fuel prices as soon as international oil prices spiked, even though Malta still had supplies bought at a lower price.

Charles Mangion, the party's spokesman on economic affairs, said the Gonzi governemnt was using every pretext to raise prices, without giving serious consideration to the impact on competitiveness and the cost of living.

While international oil prices could not be controlled, one had to wonder how, in Malta, prices were raised immediately, even when supplies bought at lower prices were still available.

This meant that the governemnt profited from the increased duty on fuel and profited again by raising prices for consumers.

This, Dr Mangion said, was abusive and was fuelling inflation.

He insisted that in the same way how the governemnt found the money to give its ministers a raise, it should also find the money for an energy benefit to all families.