Opposition spokesman seemed not to be living in Malta, the parliamentary secretariat for the elderly said in answer to a statement on television reception at St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly.

All Malta knew that television reception via aerials has for the past weeks suffered interference because of equipment installed by one of the pay TV operators. A telephone call to the authorities at the home would have confirmed this, the secretariat said.

It added that various halls at the home were having reception difficulties on local channels. TV sets provided by the management were tuned only to TVM or a foreign station, but residents who had their own set could watch whichever station they wanted. No restriction was ever intended on this.

The secretariat said filters were being installed, purposely brought from abroad, which the contractor was hoping would solve the problem.