Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has six policy consultants who receive a total of €322,719 in salaries and allowances, a response to a Parliamentary question has revealed.

PN MP Therese Comodini Cachia has asked the minister for information relating to persons offering consultancy services to his ministry, directorates, and every entity that falls under his ministry, and on what criteria were used which led to the decision to use them as consultants. She also asked if they were appointed through normal procedure.

The minister said that he has six policy consultants in the strategic priorities unit, and confirmed that they were appointed as per normal procedure released by the OPM.

The six consultants, collectively, earn €201,886. Five of the six consultants receive a transport allowance that collectively amounts to €23,295 per annum. Five also receive a communication allowance amounting to €3,660 per annum. Two received an expense allowance amounting to €22,000 per annum, and five receive an expertise allowance amounting to €71,878.

The method used to choose these six consultants was listed as “Appointed by MEDE following OPM approval as per OPM procedure.”