The government has written to parliament’s House Business Committee seeking its opinion on a request by former MPs to retain their title of ‘honourable'.

The request had been officially made to the government by the Association of Former MPs.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the committee.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia read a letter he had received from the Cabinet Office where the association said former MPs should retain their title in recognition of their service to the country.

He also enclosed documentation submitted by the association about the position in various other countries.

Dr Farrugia said some countries allowed former MPs to retain their title and others did not.

Labour MP Deborah Schembri regretted that the documentation which the association had enclosed came from Wikipedia, which was not the source one normally sought in official matters.

One had to consider from where the title ‘honourable’ stemmed. In the US, the view was that giving someone a title meant placing him a cut above everyone else, something which was looked down on. In other countries the situation was different. In Canada and Australia, the titles were retained.

Her personal view was that retaining the title did not do anyone any harm, and it gave some importance to whoever had served the country. That was a good thing.

Currently, only former Presidents could, by law, continue to retain their title. Fomer Chief Justices retained their title by practice, not by law.

The Speaker suggested a study followed by a report with the committee’s recommendations.

Mario de Marco (PN) said this was not the proper forum to discuss this matter, since the members had a vested interest. This was a decision which rested on the Executive.

The Speaker said the committee was being requested to give an opinion, the decision would then be taken by the government.

The committee agreed that the Speaker would look into the practice in the EU and the Commonwealth.