Simpson Scott: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 09 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6437. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that 98 percent of general practices across New Zealand are offering free visits for under-13-year-olds covering 770000 eligible children or 99 percent of all under-13s?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Yes I can. In Budget 2014 the National Government committed $90 million over 3 years for the roll-out of free GP visits and prescriptions for children under the age of 13 to complement the existing under-sixes policy. The policy has been in place for just over 2 months and the sign-up rate of general practices has exceeded expectation. As at 1 September 966 GP practices out of 985 are offering free daytime GP visits and we expect that several more will sign up in the coming weeks.Scott Simpson: What are the positive effects of this increased access to primary health care?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Because the National Government has removed cost as a barrier for young children accessing primary care parents will be more likely to take their child for treatment before their condition deteriorates. It will also help reduce the number of children presenting at our busy hospital emergency departments with an illness that a GP could have treated. Only a National Government can both handle the country’s finances and deliver more services.Hon Annette King: Is funding for two GP visits a year as calculated in the Budget going to be sustainable in light of reports that the data used by the Ministry of Health underestimates by two visits per child per year nationally for this age group leading to an annual loss of around $70 to $120?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: As the member knows during the negotiations with GPs all matters were covered including the rate of uptake and the consultation rate. I do not know where that report has come from but I would like her to present it because frankly it does not accord with the information we had from the doctors and the information we have had from the Ministry of Health so I think she is probably making it up yet again.Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is a constant refrain—saying that I make things up and that member—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat when I get to my feet. That sort of answer—the final wording—from the honourable Minister is not helpful to the order of the House. [Interruption] Order! No I do not want any response from the Minister if the Minister wants to stay to answer the next supplementary question. I cut the Minister off as soon as he made that comment. I cannot do it any quicker than that. That sort of answer about members making things up is effectively a reflection on a member. It leads to disorder and I will not tolerate it in this House.Barbara Stewart: Which other political party has advocated for free visits for under-13s? And if it makes so much sense for young people when can we expect this Government to implement New Zealand First’s policy of free health checks for SuperGold cardholders; if not why not?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: One could only guess but I suspect it is one that never has a chance of delivering anything.