Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia this afternoon admitted that he was present for interviews for Security Service personnel but insisted that decisions dictating the new recruits were taken by the head of the security service.

Speaking on the adjournment in Parliament, Dr Mallia, who was replying to several issues raised in Parliament by shadow minister Jason Azzopardi, said people who could give a service had been individualised and he believed that before accepting them they should be interviewed.

Dr Mallia referred to the transfers being given and said that members of a disciplinary body had to work in line with the exigencies of the service. If these required one to be transferred, getting such a transfer was not a humiliation.

Referring to a controversy surrounding transfers to policemen, the minister said it was policemen themselves who had asked for transfers.

He had even been approached by members of the Opposition who told him that certain individuals wanted a transfer. He said he had passed on the requests and they were catered for. Did this mean that those members of the opposition were being vindictive, he asked.

On the army, Dr Mallia said that for the sake of seriousness and in line with the new method of administration, a unit led by a former commander of the Armed Force to hear the about the alleged injustices and recommend solutions had been set up.

On the prisons, he said there were only four psychologists, one of whom was on maternity leave, and two social workers to assess prisoners. It was no wonder they could not keep up with the load.

He thanked the three policemen who on Wednesday escorted a pregnant woman to hospital getting her there in the nick of time.

He also thanked the police for taking over the catering of a meeting of the European Broadcasting Unit at their own request.

The police, he said, had taken care of the food and the waiting service.