The Office of the Prime Minister has spent over €1 million on consultancies related to public relations and communications since 2013.

Information to this effect was tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Robert Abela in reply to a parliamentary question by PN MP Jason Azzopardi.

The data shows that the OPM spent €8,000 in 2013, €49,000 in 2014 and €99,509 in 2015.

In 2016, the figure rose to €109,614, increasing to €124,917 in 2017 and to €197,697 in 2018.

The highest amount was spent in 2019, when the OPM dished out €234,636 in media consultancies.

The following year, it spent €126,936.

The OPM has spent €98,796 so far this year.

Abela said the information is only for expenses incurred by the OPM and does not include moneys paid by entities or departments falling under its responsibility.