Since the civil union law came into effect, there have been 22 civil unions in Malta and two in Gozo, Minister Helena Dalli told Claudette Buttigieg (PN).

To this one may add 11 couples who entered into a civil union or got married outside Malta and who have now registered their relationship in Malta. There is no legal need for a couple which had married outside Malta to register it in Malta.

In further replies to Ms Buttigieg, the minister said that anything that applies to a couple's rights, can be applied to a civil union such as access to housing and social housing.The same applies for social benefits such as pension, children's allowance and widow/er pension.

The minister invited Ms Buttigieg to report to her any case in which a civil union couple were not treated the same as a married couple.