Labour MP Joe Mizzi this evening asked the prime minister whether swearing was ever a requirement for a person to be engaged as a correctional officer.

In a question in parliament, Mr Mizzi asked what minimum qualifications were needed for engagement of correctional officers at the prison. He asked whether the prime minister  could ensure that all correctional officers were of the educational standard required of the service.

He also asked whether swearing was ever a requirement for the engagement of correctional officers.

Dr Gonzi replied that in the last call for applications for the recruitment of correctional officers, on August 31, the applicants needed to be in possession of three ordinary level MQF certificates or three certificates of comparable level issued by a recognised authority. 

Alternatively, applicants had to have served for at least 10 years in a disciplined body and had been recommended by the head of that service.

As a result, Dr Gonzi said, he was confident that the level of recruitment was making progress. 

He did not feel that the last part of the question merited a reply.