Figures in government’s budget have been “cooked up”, claims National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad.

He made the comments in relation to details presented in the 4th quarter appropriation statement that showed Government used only $3.1 billion out of its $3.6 billion 2020-2021 National Budget, with $484 million not used.

“The $484 million is not savings at all,” he said.

“If it was, the FijiFirst Government would not have used bulk of the $115 million provided by Australia and New Zealand for budget support.

“Instead, the whole sum of $484 million would have been used to provide income support to the people in their hour of need.”

He said the Government’s own appropriation statement proved how figures in the budgets “have been cooked or manipulated”.

Mr Prasad said the true picture of the state of government finances and the “extent of manipulation of figures is only known after a new budget has been approved by Parliament”.

Questions sent to the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum remain unanswered.