Prime Minister’s question time, more frequent debates on Private Member Bills, better resources for MPs, and the option of being full-time are among a set of proposals unveiled by the Opposition for more efficient parliamentary debates.

Details of the proposals were unveiled during a news conference this afternoon, addressed by PN deputy leader for Parliamentary Affairs Mario de Marco and Opposition whip David Agius.

Dr de Marco urged the government to take the ideas on board and start implementing them when Parliament reconvened at the end of the summer recess on October 2.

In total, the Opposition has floated seven proposals.

Apart from the immediate appointment of a Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, it is also calling for a mechanism whereby those nominated for public roles - such as the police commissioner and the army chief - are first grilled in Parliament.

The PN is also calling for the introduction of the Prime Minister’s question time on the same line as the House of Commons, better research resources for MPs and family friendly measures.

Another proposal is to for more time to be dedicated to debate Private Member Bills. According to the Standing Orders, a Private Member's Bill can be debated every three months.

The Opposition also signalled its willingness to embark on talks as part of a Constitutional Convention, saying this was a debate that had been postponed many times in the past.