The Foreign Ministry spends more on telephones than on hiring cars. It spent Lm67,000 on mobile phones last year but only Lm26,000 on the hiring of cars. However it then spent no less than Lm428,000 on travel, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told Labour MP Noel Farrugia.

Hotel employees not paid for past months

Labour MP Evarist Bartolo requested Education Minister Louis Galea to ask the Labour Department to take steps so that the employees of the President Hotel are paid the wages due to them, which they have not received for the past two or three months. Dr Galea replied that this case is being investigated and the necessary steps will be taken so that the employer obligations are observed.

Jerma palace Hotel

The Tourism Authority has not been officially informed what the owners of the Jerma Palace Hotel intend to do with their property, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told Nationalist MP Mario Galea.

Mr Galea claimed that hotel employees do not know what will happen to them.

In reply to another question from Mr Galea, Environment Minister George Pullicino said Mepa has not received any application for a change of use of the hotel.