Prime minister Joseph Muscat has failed to answer seven parliamentary questions about the resignations of permanent secretaries after the election.

All permanent secretaries were asked to resign after Labour swept to power in March.

Permanent secretaries are not political appointees, and their role is meant to ensure continuity in the individual ministries should the minister be removed.

PN MP Mario de Marco first fielded a question on the matter on 29 April, receiving confirmation from Dr Muscat that the resignations were a political call.

Subsequent questions fielded on 7 May have yet to receive an answer. Dr de Marco asked the prime minister to table a copy of the communication that was sent to all the permanent secretaries.

Three permanent secretaries had told The Malta Independent Online that their call for resignation was delivered verbally.

The prime minister was also asked to provide a list of all the permanent secretaries who have resigned since 1996, after having described the process as being normal procedure.

Dr de Marco again followed up on the questions on 13 May, but Dr Muscat once again put off answering, saying that the answer will be given “in another sitting.”