Nationalist MP Adrian Delia has welcomed the Speaker's decision to explore the introduction of a childminding service for Members of Parliament, saying the initiative follows an appeal he made during his first speech of the current legislature.

In a Facebook post, Delia said that after calling on Speaker Carmelo Abela to provide a childminding service within Parliament, MPs have now received a letter seeking their feedback on the proposal.

He thanked the Speaker for what he described as an immediate response, adding that he hoped the initiative would now be implemented without unnecessary delay.

The letter, addressed to Members of Parliament, states that Parliament is exploring the possibility of introducing childminding services during parliamentary sittings, which are typically held between 3pm and 8pm.

It explained that the proposal forms part of Parliament's "ongoing commitment" to support MPs in carrying out their responsibilities while creating a better balance between parental responsibilities and parliamentary duties.

Before any decision is taken, MPs have been asked to complete a confidential questionnaire to assess the level of interest in the service. According to the letter, the information gathered will be used to evaluate demand and to inform any necessary planning for the potential initiative.

The letter said that all responses will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purpose of assessing demand for the proposed service.

If introduced, the measure would represent a new family-friendly support service within Parliament aimed at assisting MPs with young children while attending parliamentary sittings.