The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia, toured the new Parliament building in Valletta yesterday but preferred not to say what his first impressions were at this stage.

Dr Farrugia told journalists he wanted to attend the presentation on the project to be given to the House Business Committee early next week.

During the tour he was accompanied by members of the House Business Committee and Labour MP Charles Buhagiar, an architect, who is the Government’s consultant on the Valletta City Gate project.

Chris Paris, CEO of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation that is overseeing the construction of the new Parliament, explained the ground floor would include a large public space.

Government offices would be situated on the first floor with the Opposition accommodated upstairs on the second floor.

The topmost floor, offering stunning views of the Grand Harbour, is where the Speaker and the Parliament’s administration will have their offices.

The chamber will be in a separate building directly accessible from the office block.

Mr Paris said that, so far, they were sticking to the original designs of Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat hinted that there could be changes to the project.

He said he had discussed the possibility of “what could be done differently” during a meeting with Mr Piano in his Paris office.

Earlier, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi had said he planned to review the layout after realising there was not enough space to house the offices of the 14 ministers and eight parliamentary secretaries and all the parliamentary committees.

The House Business Committee was informed last week that a presentation on the state of play regarding the new Parliament will be given to MPs on Tuesday.