Former minister, now MP, Charles Mangion has been put on the government’s payroll as an adviser like most of his colleagues on the backbench.

Dr Mangion, a notary by profession, who was elected to replace Marie Louise Coleiro Preca when she was named as President of the Republic, is pocketing €2,000 a month as an adviser to the Finance Ministry on financial services matters.

He was appointed in August 2014.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, in reply to a parliamentary question, said Dr Mangion is earning €18,000 a year plus an annual transport allowance of €4,658. He is also getting free telephone, mobile and internet.

Dr Mangion is also receiving €21,000 annual parliamentary honorarium.

Other MPs including Luciano Busuttil, Silvio Schembri and Charles Buhagiar are also pocketing extra money from appointments given to them by the government, apart from the parliamentary honorarium.