The opposition has turned down the Prime Minister's offer to attend for a formal presentation on Mepa reform because, it said, it should not have to make an official request as he had asked.

Labour MP Roderick Galdes said it was the government's duty to consult the opposition and questioned why the latter had to make formal requests in order to be consulted.

"If this is Lawrence Gonzi's definition of consultation, then it is clear that he had not learnt his lesson from the June 6 (European Parliament) election," he said.

Dr Galdes said the Opposition would continue to be willing to contribute to the reform as it had done with other reforms.

The Prime Minister's Office said in reaction it had taken note of the fact that the opposition was once again refusing to take part in discussions on a reform that was so important to the country.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Dr Gonzi reproached the opposition for not having presented its views on the proposed Mepa reform. He said that if Labour wrote to him officially he would authorise an official presentation as that made recently to Cabinet.

He said the Mepa reform had proved to be one of the most difficult and sensitive reforms undertaken by the government so far during this legislature.