The Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity has renewed Toni Abela’s contract of service to give legal advice to the ministry on social policy issues for another year.

Deputy Labour leader Toni Abela. Photo: Jason Borg

Replying to a parliamentary question from Nationalist MP Kristy Debono, Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia confirmed that Dr Abela would be paid a total of €20,150 until next March for his services.

This is the third successive contract to be awarded to Dr Abela since Labour returned to power.

The Ministry said that apart from Dr Abela, it was engaging another lawyer to give legal assistance: Andy Ellul has been engaged directly by the ministry on a position-of-trust basis.

Last week, the Times of Malta reported that the deputy leader was giving legal advice to the Oil Exploration division at the Ministry for Transport. For this Dr Abela will be paid €21,498. Dr Abela already served as legal consultant to the Transport Ministry for two years, with contracts worth €52,000.

In Parliament, Dr Farrugia gave a list of all the consultants he has appointed at his ministry.

Payment of €20,150 until next March

These include former Labour MEP Claudette Abela Baldacchino as a person of trust, given a salary of €32,000 a year to advise the minister on EU-related affairs. Former Labour candidate Yana Mintoff Bland is receiving a salary of €34,700 to advise him on poverty, while Labour election candidate Charles Azzopardi is the minister’s consultant on family issues.

His advice comes on a part-time basis and earns him compensation of €17,000 a year.

Former Labour parliamentary secretary Joe Cilia is acting as an advisor to the Housing Authority. Minister Farrugia said his €23,600 annual contract was awarded through a direct order.