Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party expressed its disappointment with Government’s cuts in expenditure on welfare. AD said that whilst it agrees with sustainable public expenditure, this should involve progressive revenue measures and not expenditure cuts that affect the most vulnerable groups.

Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson on Social Policy, said, “It is sad to note that the most vulnerable groups in society have to pay for bad budgeting decisions. When the Government was required to cut down on its projected costs by the EU, it was decided that 1.4 million euros would be deducted from the family budget allocation. This cut which will affect welfare agencies Appogg, Sapport and Sedqa, organisations which are already stretched to the limit both in terms of funds, work load and lack of existing support structures which would make their efforts more effective.”

“Agencies which deal with hundreds of vulnerable persons, families and especially children who face serious disadvantages and whose life involves one trauma after another should never be deprived of funds which can help make their life better.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson and spokesperson for Economy and Finance said, “AD agrees that public finance should be sustainable, but expenditure cuts should target wasteful expenditure. Besides, we believe that sustainable finance should have proper and progressive revenue targets, including combating tax evasion, emphasising progressive income tax and taxing speculative activities such as taxing vacant property from the third vacant property onwards.”

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