Updated at 2pm

The Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses spent over €1.3 million in direct order between December 2016 and November 2017, according to a reply given by Minister Chris Cardona to a parliamentary question by MP Jason Azzopardi.

The orders vary from health insurance cover for Malta Enterprise employees to various consultancy (legal, architectural and economic) services, to almost €100,000 for landscaping works at Ta' Qali and various payments for magazine article placement.

A €10,000 for 'escorting' services also raised eyebrows, but sources at Malta Industrial Parks said this was a service it offered at the Safi Aviation park while the taxiway was being extended last year.

The ministry later confirmed that the security 'escorting services' were provided by by Malta International Airport as they are the sole and authorised provider of this service.

For the other contracts, the ministry gave no explanation for why the works were given by direct order or any indication as to who the beneficiaries were.

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