Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia on Tuesday said he had no authority to verify if Opposition leader Adrian Delia had any bank deposits that were not listed in his financial declaration to parliament.

Dr Delia asked the Speaker on Monday to verify his financial declaration after The Times of Malta flagged the lack of current or savings account balances in the declaration.

The Speaker said he could not investigate whether any such balances were potentially set off against other balances.

Dr Delia declared over €670,000 in loans.

The Parliament declaration clearly states that MPs need to include information about bank deposits and any other financial interests. The MPs’ code of ethics also features such provisions.

A spokesman for Dr Delia told The Times of Malta that Dr Delia’s declaration did not mean the Opposition leader did not have a savings or current account.

“There is no such question in the declaration schedules. His parliamentary wage goes into a current account,” the spokesman said.

The Speaker said it was the Commissioner for Standards who had the power to verify MPs’ declarations.

Dr Farrugia said that on a prime facie basis, the Opposition leader had provided all the details required in the declaration.

He said anyone could pass on these declarations for verification by the Commissioner.

Speaking to Times of Malta prior to the Speaker’s ruling, Standards Commissioner George Hyzler said he had a duty to examine, and if necessary verify, the declarations made by MPs.

While declining to comment on specific cases, Dr Hyzler said he had the authority to issue recommendations with regard to any person who either failed to make the financial declaration, or made an incorrect declaration in a manner which materially distorted the purpose of such declarations.

Asked if the law allowed him to summon witnesses such as bank officials, the Standards Commissioner said the law did not set any limits in this regard.

“As you may appreciate this will be the first time such an exercise will be carried out and I shall decide how best to carry out my responsibility after having had the opportunity of examining the declarations that I have already requested be passed on to me”, Dr Hyzler said.