Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/226023
7 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2013 Between Simon Busuttil and Joseph Muscat who do you trust most? (%) Simon Busuttil Joseph Muscat None Don't Know University 40.6 29.3 24 23.1 Post Secondary 29.3 39 12.2 19.5 Secondary 24 49.7 10.8 15.6 Simon Busuttil Joseph Muscat None Don't Know 18-34 27.9 48.8 14 9.3 35-54 23.8 49 13.2 14 Primary 23.1 52.9 10.6 13.4 55+ 33.7 41.2 10.5 14.6 The age divide How do you rate the performance of Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister? (%) Positive Negative So-So Don't Know University 34.4 18.8 46.9 0 7% of those with a post-secondary education did likewise. Among secondary educated respondents concern on the cost of living rises to 11%. Concern on utility bills only emerges as one of the top five concerns among respondents with a primary education. While secondary-educated respondents tend to be more concerned with the cost of living, employment and utility bills, concern on the environment is highest among those with a university and secondary level of education. While 31% of the university and 15% of the post-secondary educated mentioned the environment as Post-Secondary 41.5 19.5 34.1 4.9 Secondary 50.6 9.5 30 9.9 one of their top two concerns, the percentage of those who did likewise falls to 7% among those with a primary and secondary education. While concern on immigration is relatively low among the university-educated (6%) it rises to 20% among those with a post secondary education. Moreover concern on immigration is higher among those with a secondary education (11%) than those with a primary education (7%). Concern on the new Individual Investment Programme only emerges as one of the top five concerns among the university-educated among whom concern on Among this category 13% mention public transport as one of their two top concerns. On the other hand concern on traffic (9%) and roads is highest among those with a university level of education (13%). Concern on public finances and the economy is highest among those with a post-secondary level of education (17%). Primary 47.1 13.5 29.8 9.6 the sale of citizenship is expressed by 16% of respondents. Concern on the new citizenship programme falls to 7% among the post-secondary educated and to 2% among the secondary educated. On the other hand concern on health is markedly higher among those with a lower education. While 14% of those with a primary level of education mention health as one of their two top concerns the percentage of those who do likewise falls 3% among the university educated. Concern on public transport is also higher among those with a secondary level of education. The survey shows that public transport is the main concern of under-34 year-olds just above concern on jobs. Employment tops the concerns of the other age groups. Concern on the environment is higher among over 35-year-olds than among those aged under this age while concern on immigration is lower among those aged over 55 years of age. Concern on health and the cost of living is also higher among more elderly respondents. Joseph Muscat emerges from the survey as the most trusted leader among all educational categories Except the universityeducated. PM least popular among university educated Prime Minister Joseph Muscat emerges from the survey as the most trusted leader among all educational categories except the universityeducated. They were also the least likely to judge Muscat's performance as prime minister positively. Significantly, while Busuttil enjoys an 11-point lead over Muscat among the university-educated Muscat enjoys a 10-point lead over Busuttil among the post secondary educated. The gap in favour of Muscat increases to 26 points among the secondary educated and to 30 points among those with a primary education. The highest percentage of respondents who trust neither of the two leaders is also found among the university educated, a quarter of which express this sentiment. The percentage of respondents who trust neither leader falls to 12% and 11% among the other categories. Secondary-educated respondents are the most likely to judge Muscat's performance as Prime Minister positively. While 51% of this category judge Muscat positively only 34% of the university-educated express the same judgement. But Muscat fares better among the post-secondary educated, 42% of which judge his performance positively. 47% of university-educated respondents judge the PM's performance as "so-so". The survey also shows that Busuttil is most popular among those aged over 55 and weakest among those aged between 35 and 54 years of age. Methodology 567 respondents were contacted by telephone between Monday 2 December and Thursday 5 December. 400 accepted to be interviewed. The results of the survey were weighed to reflect the age and gender balance of the population. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.9%. ndercuts visa investor scheme fears that the UK's own 'investor visa' programme would be dented, having been popular with Chinese and Middle Eastern investors seeking a safe haven from the Arab Spring. Kamal Rahman, head of immigration at Mishcon de Reya, was quoted by the FT saying that the IIP was the "single biggest rival" to the UK investor programme on the basis that €650,000 is a "small price for a highly reputable passport". "It addresses all the critical concerns relevant to the global high net worth community. We have a large number of clients urgently awaiting the launch of the programme and are instructed to submit applications at the earliest opportunity." The UK's investor visa invites for- eigners to make investments of £1m, £5m or £10m in gilts or British companies in return for permission to apply for permanent residence in five, three or two years, respectively. However, in order to qualify for this, applicants must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK each year. Finance minister Edward Scicluna has also told members of a European Parliament committee that the number of annual IIP passports could be expected to be capped. Green party leader Arnold Cassola yesterday said it was "totally unacceptable" that the PN and the PL had not met since 29 November, since talks on the IIP had started. "It is shameful that the only information given to the public in this period was through Sci- cluna's hearing in the European parliament, where he not only admitted that the scheme as it is was a mistake but where he also unfortunately declared his lack of faith in the Maltese people by saying that Malta is 'short of certain people of calibre'," Cassola said. "The talks should resume and be concluded on the three vital issues of 'secrecy', 'residence', and 'investment'. Maltese politicians have no right to make a fool of the whole Maltese nation because of their intransigence." UK comparison Malta's Individual Investor Programme, currently under review before the scheme is published as a legal notice, has attracted the attention of foreign media, especially the UK's. While international media have reported that Malta's selling of passports has sparked "security concerns" among member states, what has effectively raised concerns in the UK is how Malta's scheme would affect the UK's own investor visa scheme. According to the Financial Times, the UK's scheme was "far more stringent", requiring investors to spend no more than 180 days out of the country every year if they are to qualify. Those who invest the maximum of £10m must wait two years before they can apply for permanent residence. In comments to the FT.com, partner and head of private clients at PwC Legal Jurga McCluskey said that Malta's scheme had generated significant interest because of its "generous terms". McCluskey however warned that in the past, economic citizenship schemes had had "troubled histories and uncertain futures", while states such as the US might "retaliate by imposing new visa restrictions on Maltese nationals". McCluskey added that if the Maltese scheme goes ahead as envisaged, it would be highly competitive. But not wanting to sound the alarm on the UK's own scheme, McCluskey told FT.com that the benefits of investing in Britain meant that its own investor route was "safe". "The stability of the UK investor programme means it is still a more attractive option for those who want to live in the UK," she told the business news portal.