10. Question No. 10—Social DevelopmentHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 10—Social Development10. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister for Social Development: Has she received any advice from the Ministry of Social Development on how the coronavirus outbreak will affect forecasts of the number of people on Jobseeker Support; if so what did the advice state?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): I have not received advice specifically on jobseeker support forecasts in relation to COVID-19. My focus has been on ensuring that the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) remains poised and ready to support those who are able to stay in work to find alternative work or enter into further upskilling and training if and when required. We have already announced rapid response teams to provide expert support to affected employers and workers and also the removal of stand-down periods for main benefit. Alongside our investment in work-focused case management as well as initiatives like Mana in Mahi MSD is in a good position to continue to support both employers and employees moving forward.Hon Paula Bennett: Has the Minister asked for projected forecasts on the number of the increase there may be of those on benefits due to the coronavirus?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I haven't been alerted to the need for forecasts at this point. Updates to benefit forecasts will next be completed as part of the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update which is set to be published on 14 May 2020.Hon Paula Bennett: Given that jobseeker support numbers are already at similar highs to where they were during the global financial crisis will the additional impact of the coronavirus cause this Government to set new records for the number of Kiwis on jobseeker support?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I've said in the House before we need to keep all figures in perspective. We have the lowest unemployment rate at 4 percent that we have experienced in a decade. We have a working-age population on benefit of 10.5 percent which is relative if not better to every year that the previous Government were in. We are consistently focused on how we can support people into upskilling and training and I think that that is shown through our investment in 263 more work-focused case managers. I think that we all need to remain conscious of what is going on with respect to COVID-19. We will continually assess the situation to make sure that we are acting in the best interests of New Zealanders.Hon Paula Bennett: Has the Minister seen projections as high as a further 40000 people that could go on the jobseeker benefit due to the coronavirus?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I have been provided with no forecasted figures for the jobseeker benefit that align with the COVID-19 adverse event that we are facing as I said earlier but we remain poised. We think it's very important that we are prepared as a Government agency alongside all of the other Government agencies and we will continue to do our job. For MSD that is ensuring that New Zealanders who need financial support receive it as well as receiving the support to get into upskilling and training and work—that is our focus.