The government is still in discussions with the Barts School of Medicine to open a Medical and dental school in Malta, a full year after the news was originally announced by the government.

Replying to a parliamentary question put by Opposition MP Claudio Grech, Health Minister Konrad Mizzi replied with a one line answer: "I inform the Honourable MP that discussions are still continuing."

Mr Grech had made two previous parliamentary questions about the subject, and almost a year has passed since the original announcement by former Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia - who is now government whip.

Dr Farrugia made the announcement on 11 February 2014 during a session of Gvern li Jisma.

He had said the agreement will see the opening of a campus of the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, which is the medical and dental school of Queen Mary University of London.