Early Budget likely

The 2006 Budget is likely to be presented at the beginning of November so it will not clash with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held in Malta later in the month, according to sources.

The two previous Budgets have been presented on November 24. But on that date this year, Malta will be just a one day away from hosting its biggest ever conference and Queen Elizabeth II shall be in the middle of a state visit.

A specific date for the presentation of the Budget has not yet been set, however.

The sources also said it was "desirable" that the Budget debate did not spill over into the week of the conference, though if need be, it could be suspended and continued afterwards.

When contacted, Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech said that at this stage, it was too early to say when the Budget would be announced, though he added that CHOGM "would not be an ideal time".

The government effectively opened the discussion on the upcoming Budget last Saturday, when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who is also the finance minister, launched a pre-Budget document covering the period 2006 to 2010.

The document, titled A Better Quality Of Life 2006 - 2010, contains proposals ranging from shifting from direct taxation to reforming university stipends.

It was put together after discussions within the government and with a number of specialists in the public and private sectors.

It includes proposals on reforming the public sector, tax incentives to stimulate the rental market, the partial floatation of Air Malta, the feasibility of privatising generation and distribution elements of energy, and a new Health Services Act.