Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has used a private plane on 34 occasions since March 2013, a Parliamentary question revealed.

The question was posed by PN Whip David Agius.

The Prime Minister explained that the majority of uses were for the European Council meetings, of which he is informed the majority of expenses for the jet are paid for by the EU. The jet, he said, was used for meetings with other heads of state and government, and that this was in line with practices under previous administrations.

27 of the trips where a private jet was used were for EU Council and urgent EU Council Summit meetings. Some of the other meetings where a private jet was used include a meeting of EU Heads of State or Government with Turkey, Summit Asia-Europe Meeting and while on official business in the UK and Italy. On all trips, the Prime Minister was accompanied by aides.