Speaker Anġlu Farrugia has been on nearly as many official trips abroad in two years as his three predecessors in the past two legislatures combined, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

Dr Farrugia has been on 41 official visits since being appointed Speaker in March 2013, according to figures provided by the Clerk of the House, Ray Scicluna.

That is just six short of the 47 trips taken by his three predecessors between 2003 and 2013.

The trips were made following official invitations, and Dr Farrugia’s travels, nearly all of which included an entourage of four or five people, have already cost €113,000.

By way of comparison, Anton Tabone spent half that amount in double the time when he was Speaker between 2003 and 2008.

Speaking to this newspaper from Manchester, where he was on a short family holiday, Dr Farrugia yesterday defended his travels.

“I don’t agree that these trips have been too much. Every one of these trips was justified and immediately reported to the House,” he said.

Read more in The Sunday Times of Malta.