Franco Debono's threat to withdraw his Parliamentary support to government was not a factor in today's cabinet reshuffle which saw three parliamentary secretaries become ministers, the Prime Minister said.

Lawrence Gonzi said this afternoon, soon after the three new ministers took their oath of office, that the changes were the result of what appeared to be an economically very difficult year ahead.

The decision to stop the ministerial pay raise, also announced today, showed that government wanted to lead by example, Dr Gonzi said.

Over the Christmas period, Nationalist MP Franco Debono threatened he would withdraw his parliamentary support to government if the justice and home affairs ministry was not split by the end of the year.

Today's decision sees Mario de Marco become Minister of Tourism and the Environment, also retaining responsibility for Culture, Chris Said becoming Minister of Justice, and Jason Azzopardi become Minister for Lands, Small Business and Consumer and Competition affairs.

Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici will remain Minister of Home Affairs, but will exchange responsibility for justice with local government from Dr Said. Dr Mifsud Bonnici will also become Leader of the House of Representatives.

Dr Gonzi said the country needed a focused and more efficient administration in this difficult year and this is what prompted the appointment of three new ministers.

Asked why no new faces had been introduced to cabinet, the Prime Minister said this administration only had a year-and-a-half to go so the same people were retained but a better distribution of portfolios was made.

Asked what his relationship with Dr Debono was going to be, Justice Minister Chris Said said Dr Debono had given many valid suggestions and he would be consulting him about reforms to be carried out.