Vice President Guy Scott had a tough time in parliament today explaining why the PF government had backtracked from its campaign promises to reduce the size of Cabinet.

Chipangali MMD member of parliament Vincent Mwale asked to know why the PF's campaign promise of reducing expenditure by having few ministers had been ignored.

In response, Vice-President Scott said government had realized that having a number of deputy ministers in ministries was the most effective way of dealing with the problems the country was faced with.

"We have found it useful to have deputy ministers. I have two and I have assigned them to Central and Lusaka Provinces for this sitting of parliament. They will be going round with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to check on a number of problems affecting the communities," Scott said.

Meanwhile, in response to a question for oral answer from Kalabo Central UPND member of parliament Chinga Miyutu who wanted to know when the government would provide decent staff houses and local court buildings in rural areas, especially Western Province, Kabimba said the government has plans of constructing five local courts in each of the 10 provinces during the period 2012 and 2015.

Kabimba said for Western Province, the local courts would be constructed in Namayenga in Mongu, Mabenga in Mulobezi, TBZ in Nkeyema, Katima in Sesheke and Mbangu in Lukulu.