GOVERNMENT has announced that $8 million is ready for disbursement to each member of parliament (MP), under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The CDF replaces the Social and Economic Support Programme administered by the previous administration.

Shahine Robinson, state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for the CDF, said nearly 400 project proposals, costing $1.2 billion, have been submitted by MPs for review.

In her contribution to the 2008-2009 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Robinson said MPs would be allowed to use $1.5 million from the amount allocated for administrative purposes.

She said several projects submitted by MPs under the CDF have already been approved.

Rules too rigid

The junior minister advised that MPs would be required to present a five-year constituency development plan in September.

There have been complaints from MPs, according to Robinson, that the rules and regulations under the new programme were too rigid. However, she dismissed the concern and warned her parliamentary colleagues that it would not be business as usual in the spending of taxpayers' money.