MALLORCA TODAY - Exemptions from health petrol tax

The tax on petrol and diesel that the Balearic Government is considering introducing as a way of helping to fund the health service (2 March) would have exemptions for certain sectors - namely agriculture and transport firms. The tax, if it is to be implemented, would be between 2.4 and 4.8 céntimos a litre, and is one already imposed in several regions of Spain. Not included among the exemptions would be taxi drivers, who plan to raise protests against the tax and whose prices are set to rise in any event.

MALLORCA TODAY - Balearic Government may introduce health petrol tax

Though it said that it would not increase taxes, the Balearic Government is giving consideration to introducing the so-called "céntimo sanitario", a small tax on the price of petrol that would be destined to pay for the local health service. The government is, meantime, paving the way for more measures to tackle the islands' deficit and parlous financial situation. They are expected to be announced in the next few days. Rather less gloomy, though all things are relative, unemployment in the islands fell by 0.6% in February, but it still stands at over 98,000 people on the dole.