Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536968
KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 JUNE 2025 NEWS Over 1,000 PQs remain unanswered since 2022 OVER 1,000 parliamentary questions (PQs) made to gov- ernment ministers since the start of the legislature remain unanswered, information made available to MaltaToday shows. Clifton Grima would have failed his exams if he adopted the same habit of not answer- ing questions like he has done since the start of the legisla- ture. The Education Ministry tops the list of unanswered PQs with 182 being left by the wayside. The Transport and Infra- structure Ministry led by Chris Bonett follows closely with 150 unanswered PQs, and the Health Ministry led by Jo Etienne Abela ranks third with 127. The data does not indicate what period within this legisla- ture, the questions were made. It is thus pertinent to point out that in some cases, the current minister was not in office for the full three years. Indeed, Bonett took over the Transport Ministry in a 2024 reshuffle, which also saw Jo Etienne Abela becoming min- ister after Chris Fearne was nominated by the prime min- ister as Malta's prospective European Commissioner. This was before Fearne eventually stepped down from Cabinet after he was charged in court over the Vitals hospital conces- sion. Hot on the heels of the top three is Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon, who comes in at fourth with 105 unanswered PQs. Culture Minister Owen Bon- nici, who saw the lands port- folio added to his ministry last month, has 87 unanswered PQs. And the competition in Gozo is hot between Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo. They have 60 and 59 unanswered PQs respectively. They are followed by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Jus- tice Minister Jonathan Attard, who are tied with each having 53 unanswered PQs. Environment Minister Mir- iam Dalli has 46 unanswered PQs, followed by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri (40), Financen Minister Clyde Caru- ana (37), Economy Minister Silvio Schembri (35) and For- eign and Deputy Prime Min- ister Ian Borg (27). Borg was handed the tourism portfolio last year after Clayton Bartolo's resignation. European Funds Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi has 18 unanswered PQs, although this is a new ministry for him. Housing Minister Roderick Galdes and Inclusion Minis- ter Julia Farrugia appear to be the most efficient in answering PQs, with only 13 and 11 pend- ing questions respectively. PQs are a key tool used by MPs to seek information from government ministers. These questions, which can be sub- mitted either orally or in writ- ing, allow MPs to scrutinise the actions and decisions of the government, promote trans- parency, and raise issues of public concern. PQs are often used to obtain data, clarify pol- icies, or highlight matters af- fecting constituents. Last year, Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia, while delivering a ruling called for a "serious debate" on PQ proce- dure. He reminded ministers that all PQs should be answered as they play a vital role in scru- tinising government work. In a second ruling he had said he has no authority over the content of responses to PQs, being only responsible for the process itself. He noted that no regulation gives the Speak- er the authority to intervene in the type of responses ministers give to PQs, including their ac- curacy. maltatoday Polling and market research since 2002 Unanswered PQs since beginning of legislature SURVEY Clifton Grima (Education, Sport, Youths, Research and Innovation) *Chris Bonett (Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works) *Jo Etienne Abela (Health and Active Ageing) Michael Falzon (Social Policy and Children's Rights) *Owen Bonnici (Culture, Lands and Local Councils) *Clint Camilleri (Gozo and Planning) Anton Refalo (Agriculture, Fishing and Animal Rights) Robert Abela (Of�ce of the Prime Minister) *Jonathan Attard (Justice and Construction Sector Reform) *Miriam Dalli (Environment, Energy and Cleansing) *Byron Camilleri (Home Affairs and Employment) *Clyde Caruana (Finance) *Silvio Schembri (Economy, Investment and Strategic Projects) *Ian Borg (Foreign Affairs, Tourism) Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi (European Funds) Roderick Galdes (Affordable and Social Housing) Julia Farrugia (Inclusion) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 182 150 127 105 87 60 59 53 53 46 40 37 35 27 18 13 11 Portfolio changes Chris Bonett: Appointed transport minister in January 2024 Jo Etienne Abela: Appointed health minister in January 2024 Owen Bonnici: Film commission added in November 2024. Lands portfolio added in May 2025. Clint Camilleri: Planning portfolio added in January 2024 Jonathan Attard: Construction reform portfolio added in January 2024 Miriam Dalli: Lost enterprise portfolio and gained Gra nd Harbour regeneration in January 2024. Cleansing added in November 2024. Byron Camilleri: Employment portfolio added in February 2024. National Development and Social Fund portfolio added in May 2025. Clyde Caruana: Lost employment portfolio in February 2024. Silvio Schembri: Lost lands portfolio in January 2024, and gained enterprise. Ian Borg: Became Deputy Prime Minister in September 2024. Gained tou rism portfolio in November 2024. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi: Lost planning portfolio in January 2024, and gained lands portfolio. Lost lands in May 2025, and gained EU funds. Not in a position to respond: Ministers Clifton Grima, Chris Bonett, and Jo Etienne Abela lead the pack in unresponsiveness, despite Speaker Anglu Farrugia's repeated calls for accountability and transparency.