Biggest, most expensive Cabinet

The new Cabinet is the biggest in Malta’s history and the most expensive, according to an analysis carried out by The Times. Dr Muscat’s Cabinet will cost around €32 million more for the five-year legislature than the one appointed by Lawrence Gonzi in 2008. The 14 ministers and eight parliamentary secretaries will see costs rise from €9m to €15.4 million a year, well above the controversial €500 weekly raise given to ministers in 2008 and which would have cost public coffers €338,000 a year . Following public outcry that raise was reversed and the funds were reimbursed. Full story in The Times.