Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech insisted this morning that it was experts handling the Citizenship scheme who had proposed the secrecy clause in the scheme. That made economic sense for Malta, he said, but the clause was still being repealed by the government because of the concerns raised by the people, Mr Grech said in a One Radio interview.

Mr Grech said the fact that the scheme was not linked to investment meant that revenue from it could be available quicker. The government could thus be in a position sooner to invest those funds in social projects.

He said the scheme was expected to attract between 300 and 500 people and the funds would be used to ensure a leap for society, he said.

Mr Grech, who is Leader of the House of Representatives, also said that the measure whereby MPs were paid according to the number of sittings they attended, was expected to be introduced in the first half of next year.