The Prime Minister’s British media consultant, Leslie Skipper, has been awarded extra work by another government entity.

Replying to a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Claudio Grech, Economy Minister Chris Cardona confirmed that Mr Skipper received payments from the Malta Information Technology Agency, which is the central driver of the government’s information and communications technology policy, programmes and initiatives in Malta. Mr Skipper was paid almost €3,000 last year for a copywriting job.

The decision to engage Mr Skipper for the job was taken on the direct instructions of Mita chairman Tony Sultana.

Asked for details, a spokesman for Mita confirmed that Mr Skipper did copywriting related to the ITC agency’s strategy document prior to its publication.

“Mr Skipper was found to be very efficient and professional,” the spokesman added.

Mr Skipper was found to be very efficient and professional

Mr Skipper, a former BBC journalist who later opened up his own consultancy firm in the UK, acted as one of Dr Muscat’s personal media consultants during the last electoral campaign.

As soon as Labour was returned to power, he was given a government contract to provide technical advice at the Prime Minister’s secretariat and other ministries.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Skipper is receiving a remuneration of €3,638 a month, or almost €44,000 a year for his job at Castille.

His contract does not preclude him from getting extra jobs from other government entities, as was the case with Mita’s contract.

Until 2013, Mr Skipper was listed as a media trainer with Templars, a London-based PR consultancy firm. His main service consisted of “helping business leaders sound good and create an impact and a lasting impression”.