More than €37,500 were spent last year on 10 parties at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Villa Francia, in Lija.

The Prime Minister told Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina in Parliament that, although he chose not to stay at his official residence and instead continued living at his family home in Burmarrad, he used the Lija property to host receptions and other social gatherings.

Dr Muscat and his wife Michelle held 10 parties for various occasions there last year. These included hosting visiting foreign dignitaries, an event to mark the ordination of the new Archbishop and a reception to mark the Lija village feast.

Dr Muscat said that, for every occasion, the Office of the Prime Minister forked out about €3,750 to host guests.

He said that, since Labour returned to power in 2013, about €90,000 were spent on the upkeep of the villa that was formerly used as a hunting lodge.

Armed Forces of Malta personnel offered round-the-clock security together with a full-time official and two part-timers who looked after the residence.

He said the bulk of the expenditure was related to service agreements, maintenance and upgrades to various facilities including CCTV, air conditioning, lifts and generators.

Dr Muscat noted that his predecessor Lawrence Gonzi also used to host parties at Vila Francia. Yet, he added, whenever the previous administration was asked about the use of the place no information was forthcoming.

Dr Muscat said that between 2007, when the villa had been restored, and 2013, a total of €1.2 million had been spent on the residence, including furnishings.

Villa Francia, also known as Villa Preziosi, was originally built in 1757 by Francesco Preziosi. In 1987, its last owner, William Francia, left the estate as inheritance to the Maltese government specifically for the building to be used as the official residence of the Prime Minister. Since then, however, none of the serving prime ministers lived there.