Eleven sitting MPs could be breaching Parliament’s Code of Ethics as they have not yet submitted their financial declarations for 2011, according to the latest Register of Members Interests seen by The Times.

According to rules set by the Speaker, the 69 sitting MPs were given until the end of April 2012 to submit their declarations for the previous year.

However, until Friday, 11 MPs, three from the Nationalist Party, seven from the Labour Party and an independent parliamentarian have not submitted their latest declaration.

The MPs are Charlò Bonnici, Beppe Fenech Adami, Karl Gouder, Luciano Busuttil, Joe Debono Grech, Michael Farrugia, Noel Farrugia, Gavin Gulia, Anton Refalo, Karmenu Vella and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Apart from Dr Pullicino Orlando all other MPs who failed to submit their declarations are presenting themselves once again for re-election.

Three ministers, Mario de Marco, Tonio Fenech and George Pullicino have also not submitted their declarations as MPs for 2011; however, they submitted an identical declaration during the year in line with the code of ethics for ministers.

Apart from those MPs who have ignored their obligation, another 19, including Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Joseph Muscat submitted their declarations after the April deadline.

According to Parliament’s Code of Ethics, introduced in 1995 when Lawrence Gonzi was Speaker, every MP has to submit an annual declaration giving details about his profession and his employer’s identity, his possessions, including all his immovable properties including those of his wife and minor children, shares in commercial enterprises, investments and money deposited in banks.

The code also envisages that MPs shall declare any directorships, associations, board memberships and declare if they went on paid travel abroad.

These declarations are held by the Speaker but are open for public viewing upon request.

Although the deadline established by the Speaker for the 2011 declarations was the end of April 2012, many MPs submitted their forms later than the stipulated timeframe.