[WATCH] Prime Minister gives sneak peek of electoral programme

The leader of the Nationalist Party has one-upped the Labour Party with his announcement of providing teachers and students of primary and secondary schools with tablets where the content would be restricted to educational material only.

The proposal comes hot on the heels of an announcement by PL leader Joseph Muscat an hour earlier who said a Labour government would give a free tablet computer to Year IV schoolchildren to improve their IT literacy.

Highlighting the core points of the PN's electoral programme, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that a PN government would also deliver tablets, however saying that all school children, from primary level to secondary level, as well as teachers, would benefit.

He said that it is important to involve teachers in such a scheme as well, "because if we give tablets to just children, they will end up playing with them." Gonzi also stressed that the tablets would be geared towards education and learning, as well as assisting teachers in their duties.

Asked to be specific regarding what sort of tablets the PN was proposing handing out to students, Gonzi was evasive. "We did not mention brands. We're talking about a particular tool, where the focus is on the content of that tool."

Gonzi also emphasised that "within days" after the PN's general council approves the final version of the electoral programme, the Nationalist Party would be publishing the costing of the proposals.

The general council will be meeting tomorrow evening to discuss the electoral programme, themed  'Another leap in quality'.

Giving a sneak peek of the programme, Gonzi this morning pledged a commitment to continue reduce tax, "where possible and sustainably" as he announced further tax incentives to female entrepreneurs who return to the workplace or set up a new business.

Gonzi also announced that a PN government would link stipends to the cost of living - every year the stipend would be adjusted pro rata according to the COLA increase.

On childcare centres, Gonzi said that the PN government would be allocating €5 million for a voucher system, by which working parents - whether fulltime or part time - can use to cover the cost of sending their children to such centres.

He said that the vouchers would either cover the entire cost of the child care service, or cover part of it, depending whether parents opt for public childcare or private childcare.

"Parents should be at liberty to decide whether they want to send their kids to private of public centres and incentives should be given to all," he said.

He also announced that a future government would grant parents sick leave when their children fall ill, allowing them to achieve a more manageable work/life balance.

Gonzi also stressed that that his party's main challenge for the coming five years was on the creation of "at least 25,000 jobs", adding that this is "an inescapable priority for the country."

"The election is nothing other than an opportunity to appear before the electorate with a concrete plan on where we want this country to go during the next legislature," he said.

One of the PN's proposals on health is for government to compensate those who would have to pay for medicine that would otherwise be provided for free but would be out of stock from the government's pharmacy.

He added that the PN would also introduce a system whereby medicines not on the free medicines list, which are nevertheless prescribed by consultants, would be part-refunded by government.

On energy, Gonzi said that a Nationalist government would introduce a night tariff, applicable between 10pm and 6am with a tariff variation of between 7% and 26%. He said that the interconnector, which will be operational by the end of 2013, as well as the installation of smart metres in all local homes as from the end of 2013, along with the operation of the BSWC Delimara plant, will translate into greater efficiency that will make this possible.

Gonzi also added that the government is currently negotiating with the European Union for funding for the gas-pipeline project, adding that while "funds are guaranteed in principle" the exact figure will become known after negotiations are concluded.

Gonzi added that through a scheme titled 'empower', further savings in energy consumption and tarrifs could also be acheived by assisting families and enterprises to invest in renewable energy sources and greater energy efficiency.

He added that EU finding must remain an integral part of any vision for Malta's future, as it played an intimate part in Malta's achievements so far.

Gonzi also reiterated that a PN government would be committed to achieving a balanced budget by 2015, dismissing questions by the media that the government's own 2013 budget proposals spell out a deficit of €46 million for that same year.

Gonzi also took its succession tax reduction proposal in the budget a step further from 35% to 15%, saying that a PN government would extend it to all property, not just those in urban conservation area.

On education Gonzi also unveiled a pledge to construct an additional five schools over the coming five years, a school per year, while also granting National Insurance to university students that would count as working years for pension purposes.