Opposition had agreed with raise for MPs - Fenech - PL denial

The Finance Ministry this afternoon denied that the government had not been told the opposition that the honoraria of MPs was being raised.

The raise was discussed between the Minister of Finance and the whip of the Labour parliamentary group, Joe Mizzi, before the summer, the ministry said.

"The Opposition expressed agreement with the increase in the honoraria. The Opposition also requested that MPs continue to be entitled to free envelopes and mail through Parliament," the ministry said.

It was therefore not correct for a Labour Party spokesman to have told The Times that the Opposition learnt of the raise through a parliamentary question.

The ministry said that minister Tonio Fenech had had separate meetings with the Speaker, the PN whip and the Labour whip in May.

The raise is still in the process of implementation.

PL DENIES EVER AGREEING ON RAISE

A spokesman for the PL in a reaction stressed there was never anay agreement by the opposition for the raise.