Government Whip Mario Galea said he would like to see the introduction of a British-style Prime Minister’s question-time and he also agrees that the opposition should have the opportunity to set the parliament agenda once a month.

However, speaking to The Malta Independent, Mr Galea complained that these measures do not enjoy a broad consensus in the house and as a result have had to be put aside.

Mr Galea is also in favour of changing the way that a quorum check is called. He said it is unacceptable that a quorum is called in order to disrupt a parliamentary session just because a member is not satisfied with a minister’s answer. He called for a change in this practice to make it similar to that of the UK’s House of Commons, whereby a quorum may be called for only if a vote is to be taken.

Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi, on the other hand, told this newspaper that he has always given plausible reasons for calling a quorum. He claimed that he uses this procedure whenever he feels democracy is under threat.

Mr Mizzi also criticised those MPs from both sides of the House who are not sufficiently prepared before speaking in Parliament.