The various law and order bodies spent well over Lm3 million last year in conjunction with law enforcement on the illegal immigrants issue.

This was revealed by various ministers in replies to questions by Labour MP Adrian Vassallo.

Minister Dolores Cristina revealed her ministry spent Lm787,000 on illegal immigrants.

Justice Minister Tonio Borg said that, apart from the salaries of the police officers involved, Lm389,000 were spent on food, repatriation expenses and other expenditure on illegal immigrants.

And Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the armed forces spent Lm2,259,000 on illegal immigrants last year.

Moreover, in reply to another question by Dr Vassallo, Dr Borg said there are 1,020 illegal immigrants still held in detention centres in Malta.

And in yet another reply the minister said 1,780 illegal immigrants arrived in Malta last year. The highest number, 368, came from Eritrea, 312 came from Egypt, 311 from Somalia, 158 came from Morocco and 143 from Ethiopia

97 babies born to under 16 single mums

The total of babies born to single mothers last year amounted to 655 of which 97 were born to single mothers aged under 16 years of age, Health Minister Louis Deguara told Labour MP Carmelo Abela.

From Sa Maison to Pilar

The Joint Office will be moving to the building which used to house the Pilar School in Valletta, Interior Minister Tonio Borg confirmed to Nationalist MP Mario Galea. The move will take place once the Valletta building is made ready to receive the Joint Office, the minister said.