Manufacturing statistics that show exports dropping significantly are based on a “fake” survey (fazull), Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said this evening.

He later clarified that what he meant was that the survey was seriously flawed.

Speaking on Times Talk this evening, which is discussing the budget, Prof. Scicluna rebutted Opposition spokesman Tonio Fenech’s criticism that export figures were a disaster.

Mr Fenech criticised the government for not doing anything to help the manufacturing sector.

Prof. Scicluna said the fall in exports was a result of depressed markets in Europe but disputed the extent of the drop.

“I have an understanding of statistics… The survey is done on a handful of export companies which are not representative of the whole sector. If exports were falling as much as the figures showed we would have companies laying off people. Figures actually show that the manufacturing sector increased its workforce.”

Prof. Scicluna said there was little the government could do to address the low demand abroad but was intent on reducing the burden on the sector to make it more competitive.

The reduction in electricity tariffs and simplification of bureaucracy were two measures to increase competitiveness, he said.