Speaker Anglu Farrugia has told parliament that he cannot force ministers to provide details about the people employed by the government on a position of trust basis.
Opposition MPs David Thake and Jason Azzopardi have been asking ministers over the past weeks to list each individual occupying a position of trust, how much they earn each year, and when their contract expires.
Position of trust positions are often seen as a way to give unjustified promotions to friends and supporters', bypassing the usual engagement rules for public service.
In a series of identical replies, Prime Minister Robert Abela and his ministers said positions of trust are given in accordance with a manual issued by the head of the civil service in 2015.