Ministerial cars, second use and maintenance: the questions asked in parliament

Parliamentary questions tabled by members of parliament continue to discuss the use of official and second cars by members of the Cabinet, with this evening’s batch referring to at least three former Cabinet members who opted for an annual €7,000 allowance.

The replies to the parliamentary questions show that in 2012, then parliamentary assistants Chris Said, Mario de Marco and Robert Arrigo had all chosen to avail themselves of the annual allowance instead of making use of the second car.

In reply to a question by opposition whip David Agius on the Prime Minister’s official car, Joseph Muscat said that he personally pays all maintenance expenses pertaining to his official car.

Instead of purchasing a brand new saloon car, Muscat decided to make use of his own Alfa Romeo and receive a yearly allowance.

Muscat told Agius that the BMW used by former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi had cost €62,360. In addition, he added, maintenance expenses amounted to €32,539, paid from taxpayers’ money.

In reply to other questions by Agius, Muscat reiterated that there was no difference in how the second car was being used, compared to the previous legislature.