Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said this evening that he was not the one who asked the police corps to provide waiters and cooks for a European Broadcasting Union banquet at Girgenti Palace last week and he was only informed at the last minute.

He saw nothing wrong in what had happened, but with hindsight, should a similar request be made, he would act differently, he said.

Replying to questions in Parliament by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, he said the issue was discussed between the police corps and the ministry and he was informed at the last minute.

The ministry, he said, paid the police force for their duties and all those involved, including those from the Institute from Tourism Studies were paid.

Dr Mallia said he only learnt recently, during a police lunch for the press where he was also a guest, that the police had their own cooks and waiters.

He had not known until the last minute about last week's case because he did not get involved in such nitty gritty.

He saw nothing wrong in what had happened, but with hindsight, should a similar request be made, he would act differently.

Asked if he found it strange that members of the police were used in this way, Dr Mallia said that what was strange was the orchestration of this episode by the Nationalist Party and a particular newspaper.

Asked if the country had been ridiculed by the fact that EBU waiters were served by police waiters, Dr Mallia said this had been a 'fantastic' evening for the guests and all those present enjoyed themselves. The food and service were also good. 

He also pointed out that there had been an occasion, under the previous government, where the kitchen of St Vincent de Paule Home was used for a function which had nothing to do with the Home.