Ngaro Alfred: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 28 May 2013. Volume:690;Page:10394. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.ALFRED NGARO (National) to theMinister for Social Development: What announcements has she made about providing support for breakfast in schools?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development): Today we announced that the Government is putting $9.5 million over the next 5 years towards the KickStart Breakfast programme in schools. This is in partnership with Fonterra and Sanitarium and will be matched in value by them. We have also announced that we will increase our support to KidsCan providing $1.5 million over 3 years to provide children with basic necessities like raincoats and shoes. I believe we have struck the right balance. Ultimately it is parents who are responsible for their children but we cannot ignore the fact that some children turn up hungry and cannot learn on an empty stomach. That is why this programme includes not only Government but community non-governmental organisations and business partners as we all have a shared responsibility for these children.Alfred Ngaro: How will this Government investment support these programmes to make a difference for vulnerable children?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Currently the KickStart Breakfast programme runs just two mornings a week in decile 1 to 4 schools. This partnership will increase this to five mornings a week and higher-decile schools that want and need the programme can opt in over time. These programmes are a genuine partnership. The Government will back the programme with resources Fonterra and Sanitarium will distribute the food and communities will run the breakfasts and provide the bowls and spoons.Alfred Ngaro: What other announcements have been made to support low-income families?Hon PAULA BENNETT: This is part of a vast programme of initiatives and policies targeted to vulnerable and low-income families with children. We have a strong record over the past 4½ years of targeted assistance and support to those who need it most. But Budget 2013 included further initiatives like $100 million to extend the home insulation programme; another $24 million for rheumatic fever prevention; $41 million for early childhood education for vulnerable children to make sure that they really are targeted; $35 million for carers of children; and low and no-interest loan options.Jacinda Ardern: Will her Government take the next step and formulate a plan to tackle child poverty starting with setting targets to reduce it and address the root cause of the problem: our low-wage economy and inequality rates that have reached their highest point ever under this Government?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Some of the reports that I have seen said that way back in 2007 when that member’s party was in Government we still had 240000 children who were living in poverty. I think that if the member reads our response to the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty she will see an extensive programme of work that has been going on out there. Ultimately what we are saying though is that the plan is working but there is more still that we can do and that is why we are pleased with the announcements today.Jacinda Ardern: Has she adequately responded to the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty its 78 detailed recommendations and its almost year’s worth of work with her 13-page double-spaced paper which barely acknowledges the group’s recommendations and which lists tax cuts and floating mortgage rates as her Government’s child poverty successes?Hon PAULA BENNETT: In the old days when that member’s party was in Government it was a case of the longer the document the more it was doing. But actually this is about action. What that document shows is what a vast lot of work isgoing on to support those who are on low incomes or in benefit-dependent households. To give just two quick examples to the House we have had a doubling of special-needs grants to families that needed it during the recession. We spent twice as much at that time when people really needed it. We were there for them and we were able to give them that level of assistance. This Government spends nearly $2 billion on accommodation support alone: $1.2 billion projected to go up by another $100 million just on accommodation support and also under the income-related rents. That is making a difference. It is one thing to sort of harp from the other side; it is another to take action.Rt Hon John Key: Has the member seen reports of a Government that over the last 5 years when it comes to at-risk children and to vulnerable families has spent $20 billion on Working for Families income-related rents and accommodation supplements; insulated 215000 homes with a further 46000 homes to be insulated; built 3000 additional bedrooms on State houses in Auckland—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon John Key: —spent just on $50 million on rheumatic fever; come up with a whiteware procurement programme and a microfinance programme—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is quite a sufficiently long supplementary question.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Yes I have seen reports about that. Actually the report was a lot longer than that because you did not actually cover everything that was in the report that is actually happening for vulnerable children. But of course this National-led Government is the one that is stepping up and taking action for those low-income families that need it.Hon Trevor Mallard: Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Point of order—Hon Trevor Mallard: No no. It is a supplementary question.Mr SPEAKER: Oh a supplementary question. The Hon Trevor Mallard—[Interruption] Order! The member is asking a supplementary question.Hon Trevor Mallard: Has the Minister seen a statement recording the view of an individual that Working for Families was communism by stealth and is that individual now the Prime Minister?Hon PAULA BENNETT: What I have seen a report on is that we have actually seen Working for Families being fixed. We have actually seen more support going into those lower-income families and seen it actually making a big difference in their lives.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Although it was a political question it was straightforward and does deserve an answer.Mr SPEAKER: I would appreciate it if the Minister could answer it.Hon PAULA BENNETT: I personally have not seen a report like that.Mr SPEAKER: Question—[Interruption] Order! Question—[Interruption] Order! Would the House please settle. Question No. 5 Dr Russel Norman.