Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea this week raised a complaint in parliament over the reporting of an answer to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Noel Farrugia.

He told the Speaker that the report carried in The Malta Independent (16 May) was not faithful to what was actually said in Parliament and contained details that were not stated in the reply. He also asked the Speaker to carry out the necessary investigation.

The parliamentary question and the reply by Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett are being carried in full below.

Labour MP Noel Farrugia asked Minister Mugliett to comment on the investigation into cracks that developed in the tarmac along the Mtarfa bypass, including the part that had been repaired but had once again subsided.

In reply, Minister Mugliett said:

“An investigation with regard to the said road was carried out a year ago, when the first cracks appeared on the inner part of the road. It resulted from the investigation that the inner part of the road had been built before work on the wall had commenced, and the cracks appeared during excavation works on the outer part of the road where a large amount of clay was found.

“Parts of the cracked road were repaired during maintenance work on this part of the road. The ADT is monitoring the situation.”