Transport Minister Joe Mizzi yesterday accused the Opposition of putting spokes in the wheels in various sectors of transport.

He was replying to a PQ by Mario de Marco (PN) who asked why, eight months on, Mr Mizzi had not tabled the government’s agreement with Autobuses de Leon. What were the service levels stated in the contract?

Mr Mizzi said the Opposition had harmed the country with mistaken claims and alarmist statements. For example, he asked, had anyone seen workers being dismissed and Spaniards taking over driving duties?

He said he would not provide an opportunity for the people’s confidence in the bus service to be undermined, and the contract would be published at the opportune time.

Dr de Marco said Mr Mizzi had a responsibility to the people to publish the contract. What was defined as the opportune time?

Mr Mizzi said no opportunity would be given to the Opposition to cause harm.

Answering Marthese Portelli (PN) earlier, he said although the government asked many questions, Spanish-owned Malta Public Transport was a private company and it was not obliged to reply to everything, such as how often its buses were maintained.

However, the company was obliged to follow requirements laid down by the law and its contract. That included road worthiness, VRT, the number of buses on the road and the routes to be followed.