The government is reviewing the layout plans of the new parliament building after finding that there isn't enough space for offices for all ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

The new parliament, being built on the former Freedom Square at City Gate, also lacks sufficient space for all parliamentary committees and for a Cabinet meeting.

The new government has 14 ministers and eight parliamentary secretaries, but the new building only has space for 16 ministerial offices, informed sources said.

There is also concern that the new building does not have enough space for all the parliamentary committees and other committees which may be set up in line with the practice in other EU countries. The plans provide for only four fully equipped committee rooms. The planners argued that committees never all meet at the same time.

Parliament House is being built in two blocks, one for the Chamber and the other housing the various offices including the ministerial offices, offices for the Opposition, rooms for the backbenchers, the Speaker's Chamber and the offices of the parliamentary staff. The project is due to be completed late this year.

The project now falls within the remit of infrastructure minister Joe Mizzi, who was briefed by officials last week. Mr Mizzi was also the long-serving whip of the Labour parliamentary group up to the end of the last legislature.