There might be little indication of what her highly-paid role as investment envoy in China is leading to, but a parliamentary question did reveal that Sai Mizzi Liang organised a trip her husband - Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi - made in China earlier this month.

This trip, which was reported by China Daily but not publicised by the Maltese government's own Department of Information, focused on Chinese traditional medicine, and should help pave the way for the arrival of a team of traditional medicine practitioners to Malta.

In her question, Nationalist Party MP Claudette Buttigieg asked Dr Mizzi to declare who formed part of the Maltese delegation reported by the Chinese newspaper, and what each person's role was. But Dr Mizzi was not present, and Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis read out a prepared answer in his stead.

However, the statement Dr Zammit Lewis read out did not actually answer the question. Instead, the minister simply revealed that Dr Mizzi's wife organised the trip, and simply listed the meetings the Maltese delegation held.

The answer failed to impress Dr Buttigieg, who questioned whether Dr Zammit Lewis actually understood the question.

On his part, PN whip David Agius seized the opportunity to ask out of what office Ms Mizzi organised the visit - it is not yet known if she even has one, more than a year into her controversial appointment - but to no avail.

Ultimately, Dr Zammit Lewis was not in a position to answer the questions which concerned his cabinet colleague, prompting Mr Agius to ask whether Dr Mizzi was not present because he was on official business abroad.

But government whip Godfrey Farrugia confirmed that Dr Mizzi was in Malta, although he did not explain why the minister failed to make it to parliament.

Mr Agius noted that Dr Mizzi was aware of the questions he had to answer, and insisted that he should justify his absence. But Dr Farrugia simply pointed out that a number of opposition MPs were also absent, noting that Mr Agius had actually asked a number of parliamentary questions on behalf of his colleagues earlier in the evening.

Dr Buttigieg also asked another question, in which she asked whether a specific person - in line with parliamentary procedure, the name was not made public - formed part of this delegation, but Dr Zammit Lewis replied that this person was not.

This prompted Mr Agius to ask, once more, whether the persons making part of the delegation were thus known, but Dr Zammit Lewis noted that such a question should be made in writing.

A frustrated Mr Agius pointed out that the question was the same one Dr Buttigieg had made, but the minister reiterated that he was not in a position to answer.