MPs agreed today that the right for adequate maintenance which is to be given to the children of divorced parents until they are 23 years old, if they are in post-secondary education, will be extended to all children.

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said this decision was "a milestone".

He explained that in terms of the Divorce Bill, the children of divorced parents had a guarantee of adequate maintenance until they turned 23 if they wished to continue to study beyond secondary school.

There was, however, also a situation where couples in dysfunctional marriages did not actually separate but ignored the needs of their children.

Such children would henceforth have the right to also demand adequate maintenance to enable them to further their education.

The right is to be included in amendments to the Civil Code.

The decision was taken as MPs held a four-hour meeting of the Committee for the Consideration of Bills this morning. The Committee is expected to conclude its deliberations on all the clauses of the Divorce Bill by tomorrow or Tuesday.

The final vote will be taken tomorrow week.