The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) investigation into the allegation that ‘whistle-blowers’ were incentivised to provide evidence to the McGrail Inquiry “has not uncovered any evidence that meets the threshold for criminal prosecution for Misconduct in Public Office.”
This is a summary of the state of the economy as set out more extensively in the Chief Minister's full address to Parliament and of the budget measures contained therein.
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
• Record Budget Surplus – highest ever at £37.174m.
• GDP growth of 7.8% (£1.137bn to £1.226bn).
• On target to meet or exceed GDP of £1.65bn by 2015/16.
Speaking at this morning’s 2013 Budget speech, held in Parliament, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo congratulated and thanked those involved in the televising and live streaming of parliament proceedings for their hard work. The initiative, which was a Government manifesto commitment, was launched during today’s meeting. The stream can be seen on Yourgibraltartv.com.
Announcing the figures for this financial year, the Chief Minister explained that Gibraltar’s Gross Domestic Product had risen from £1.05 billion in 2010 – 2011, to £1.137 billion in 2011-2012, this year’s GDP has come in at £1.5 billion, surpassing the Government’s expectation of £1.2 billion.
I am delighted to announce that in its meeting last Friday in Brussels, which ended in the very early hours of Saturday morning, the European Council of Economic and Finance Ministers of the 27 EU Member States (ECOFIN) endorsed Gibraltar’s Income Tax Act, as amended earlier this month, as now being compliant with the EU Code of Conduct for Business Taxation.
Minister for Sports, Culture, Heritage & Youth, Steven Linares together with the Minister for Equality, Social Services & the Elderly, Samantha Sacramento have sent the following message to the Gibraltar Special Olympics in advance of the Summer Games which commence tomorrow.