Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi did not declare his wife’s 2013 income despite her appointment last year as Malta’s special envoy to China with a financial package worth €13,000 a month.

Declaring that he earned €54,000, Dr Mizzi said he had €263,000 in bank deposits and 4,000 MIA shares.

He also declared a house in London and an apartment in Sliema. The minister had an outstanding loan of €338,000.

Asked why he did not report his wife’s income, the minister said he was not obliged to do so.

“The minister has followed procedure and declared what was requested in his declaration,” his spokesman said. “Ministers, not just in this legislature, are not asked to divulge their partner’s income.”

On the other hand, ministers Chris Cardona, Edward Scicluna, George Vella, Anton Refalo, Manuel Mallia and others declared their wives’ incomes or assets.

The energy minister’s wife, Sai Mizzi Liang, is paid more than €5,000 a month and also gets benefits and perks that push her income to more than €156,000 a year, including free accommodation, car, fuel and schooling for her two children and free business class travel between Malta and China.