Budget debate to end by November 18

Debate on the Budget 2006 is expected to be concluded on November 18, the House Business Committee was told yesterday.

The Budget Speech will be presented next Monday, the Opposition Leader will reply on November 7 and the Prime Minister will speak again on November 9.

The allocations to the various ministries will then be debated in Committee of Supply over 14 sittings which will be held mornings and evenings between November 10 and 18.

Leader of the House Tonio Borg told the committee that the House will debate the financial estimates of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority tomorrow while the estimates of the Employment and Training Corporation will come before the House on November 1 and 2. When the committee discussed other matters, Opposition whip Joe Mizzi said he had received correspondence from Opposition social welfare spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro complaining of the way the Social Affairs Committee was being managed.

He said that an MP could not be expected to cut short remarks in the committee and the committee should not pass important issues within 10 minutes in the absence of several members.

Dr Borg said that the version of the facts he had been given was different from that given to Mr Mizzi and the chairman had to regulate the time within the committee.

He said that, however, he did not like such disagreements in the committees and efforts were being made to clear up the air.

Mr Mizzi pointed out that the situation was not the same in the other committees.