Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia told Parliament yesterday that he was not the one who had 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.

Replying to questions in Parliament by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, he said he saw nothing wrong in the fact that the service was offered by the police, 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, which he did not name.

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”.

Asked if the country had been ridiculed by the fact that EBU delegates 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 Paul residence was used for a function which had nothing to do withthe home.

Speaking during the adjournment, Dr Azzopardi said it was shameful of the Government not to have informed the EBU delegates that they were being served by members of the police.

He also spoke about police transfers given yesterday, including those of members of the security service. (A full report will be carried tomorrow).