MPs argue on second hand vehicles

Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday called on Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela to make an exhaustive statement as to what government policy was regarding the increase in registration tax on second hand cars.

He said the statement should differentiate between passenger and goods carrying commercial vehicles in view of the vague working of the Bill to Implement Budget Measures.

Dr Sant said that during the past week he had been inundated by people asking him what was happening in this sector and he could not answer them. The government was confusing businessmen. Who was taking decisions? Could it be that the parliamentary secretary, the minister or the government did not know what was happening, he asked.

Notary Abela said the tax on second hand goods-carrying vehicles, which included the vehicles used by the small self-employed and those in the construction industry was not being changed.

Tax had been raised on passenger carrying vehicles, he said.

Notary Charles Mangion (MLP) asked if this meant that tax had been increased on taxis, for example, since although commercial, these were passenger carrying vehicles. The difference between one commercial vehicle and another should be clearly defined, he said.

Dr John Attard Montalto (MLP) asked whether it was the case that certain commercial vehicles were exempt from the increase, but others were not.

Notary Abela said the government's policy was that if preferential treatment was given for passenger carrying vehicles it would be given to those buying new vehicles and not to those buying second hand.

Notary Mangion said that progress was finally being made but this was different from what had been promised in the budget speech.