The Budget document mistakenly published by the government and then withdrawn included several measures which could have gone some way towards addressing concerns the Opposition had raised, Beppe Fenech Adami, PN deputy leader for party affairs said this afternoon.

An exercise carried out by the Opposition between yesterday and today revealed 50 major changes between the two documents, Dr Fenech Adami said.

Among the proposals which the government had dropped, was one to invest millions in training and infrastructure for the police corps and the Civil Protection Department, including new equipment and a refurbishment of police stations.

Another proposal would have increased police presence in tourist areas.

Gozitan students would have seen an increase of their allowance by €800 and not €300 as announced in the Budget. 

According to the Budget document, additional capacity in the electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily would have been offered to the private sector. 

Paula Mifsud Bonnici, shadow minister on social policy, said that in the Budget speech, the government announced that the number of annual contributions for one to be eligible for a full pension was being raised to 41 years for those born after 1968. This was not mentioned in the Budget document.