The annual salary bill for 'persons of trust' or people in 'positions of trust' employed at the Office of the Prime Minister and the ministry and parliamentary secretariat forming part of it amounts €851,750.

Prime Minister Robert Abela provided this information in reply to a parliamentary question by PN MP Claudio Grech.

Abela said the list of persons of trust and positions of trust at the ministry and parliamentary secretariat within OPM is in line with a manual that was tabled recently.

Regarding the Office of the Prime Minister, the complement that is not listed in the manual is as follows: 2 Receptionists, 2 Personal Assistants, 2 Senior Cabinet Officers, 2 Cabinet Co-Ordinators, 5 Special Envoys/Delegate, 14 Customer Care, 6 Messenger/Driver, 1 Customer Care Co-ordinator, 1 PQ Officer, 2 Communications Co-ordinators and 1 Estates Co-ordinator.

The total annual wage bill amounts to €851,750.