The government side in Parliament yesterday took a dig at Opposition leader Simon Busuttil on his impending unannounced visit to China, as it reacted to repeated Opposition questions about Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s visits to Azerbaijan last year and his absence from the House during question time.

Dr Busuttil repeatedly asked why the public had not been informed of Dr Mizzi’s three visits to Azerbaijan last year. He castigated the minister for not being in the House to answer “questions of manifest public interest”.

Government Whip Godfrey Farrugia said he could not state where Dr Mizzi was.

Dr Busuttil recalled that last December the minister went to Azerbaijan with the Prime Minister unaccompanied by any officials, consul or ambassador.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne retorted that he had heard Dr Busuttil was going to China – after criticising that country so much – from the Chinese Ambassador and subsequently through the media. Dr Busuttil said that at least the taxpayer would not be paying for his visit.

Opposition MP Claudio Grech asked for information on the €88 million bank guarantee given by the government to Electrogas, whose partner was Azeri government company Socar. How much had the Azeri government guaranteed Socar?

When Mr Fearne asked for these questions to be put in writing to Dr Mizzi, Dr Busuttil said the minister’s absence was not acceptable and the Speaker should suspend the sitting until he could be located and made to attend. Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said there was no case for suspension.

PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami remarked this was “a government of missing people the minister’s wife’s whereabouts in China were not known either.