Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said today that recently published government finance figures are putting peoples minds at rest, that the economy is doing well.

The minister explained that in the last year of the previous administration, Malta had a huge €362 million deficit in the consolidated fund, adding that this government changed the direction and Malta ended up with a surplus of nearly €9 million.

Between January and April, he said, The Consolidated Fund registered a €21 million surplus.

"In the first four months of the year, this government saw a surplus more than double the size of that of the previous year."

PL MP Franco Mercieca said that government kept investing in the health and education sectors, "as this investment will continue strengthening the economy and improving work opportunities and investment."

Taking aim at PN Leader Simon Busuttil, the PL MP said that "through Simon Busuttil's irresponsible promises, our country will end up in an excessive deficit procedure, and government would need to take austerity measures such as cutting off pensions and increasing taxes."