Out of 264 men and women who are in decision-making roles within the civil service, meaning from head of department and upwards, 69.7 per cent are men while 30.3 per cent are women.

This information came to light in the form of a parliamentary question put forward by Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg to Equality Minister Helena Dalli.

In addition, Buttigieg also asked Dalli how many workers in the civil service are benefitting from the work-life balance government measure which aims to provide flexible working-times in order to promote a healthy work-life balance.

From 2016 'reduced hours' figures, 283 women and 18 men are benefitting from a 20 hour work-week, 135 women and eight men are benefitting from a 25 hour work-week, 369 women and 19 men are benefitting from a 30 hour work-week, 201 women and six men are benefitting from a 35 hour work-week and 247 women together with 12 men are also benefitting from reduced hours under different schemes.

In total, 1051 women and 166 men have availed themselves of teleworking with the civil service, and lastly, 380 women and 304 men are benefitting from flexi-time.

Flexi-time was the category where the split between women and men was the most even. This government has embarked on various initiatives in order to bolster the female workforce, which has been historically low compared with other European countries.