11. Question No. 11—CorrectionsMIKE BUTTERICK (National—Wairarapa) to the Minister of CorrectionsQuestion No. 11—Corrections11. MIKE BUTTERICK (National—Wairarapa) to the Minister of Corrections: What recent announcements has he made about access to rehabilitation programmes?Hon MARK MITCHELL (Minister of Corrections): On Sunday I announced that the coalition Government has taken the first steps to ensure prisoners on remand can access the rehabilitation and reintegration support they need to turn their lives around. As part of the 100-day plan we're taking steps to make it explicit in the Corrections Act 2004 that prisoners who are on remand and convicted of a crime will be provided with the rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.Mike Butterick: How many more people are there on remand now than there were 10 years ago?Hon MARK MITCHELL: The number of people on remand has increased by 146 percent over the last 10 years and remand now represents almost 45 percent of the entire prison population. This announcement will ensure that these people are receiving access to vital rehabilitation.Mike Butterick: Who will benefit from these changes and how many prisoners are likely to benefit?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Remand-convicted prisoners will benefit from the provision of offence-based rehabilitation including rehabilitation related to violent and sexual offending. The advice that I've received indicates that at any one time nearly 1400 prisoners may benefit from this rehabilitation. The biggest benefit though will be for the public in that more violent offenders will be receiving rehabilitation while inside with an aim to improve public safety.Mike Butterick: What other changes will the Government make to strengthen rehab access?Hon MARK MITCHELL: As part of the Amendment Paper which I've sent to the Justice Committee for consideration alongside the Corrections Amendment Bill the proposed amendment sets out a clear expectation that remand-accused prisoners will be provided with reintegration and other non - offence-focused support while in prison. This includes alcohol and drug treatment as well as educational or behavioural skills programmes.Dr Tracey McLellan: Is the Minister confident that Corrections is currently resourced to meet its existing obligations to provide rehabilitative services as set out in the sentenced prisoners management plan as provided in section 51 of the Corrections Act?Hon MARK MITCHELL: It's well known that Corrections for the last six years has suffered with a lack of front-line corrections officers who by the way do an outstanding job in keeping the public safe. But the good news is that Corrections has received 2108 applications since the new recruitment ad started on 4 February 2024 to 21 February 2024. This is a huge increase—almost four times—compared with the 550 applications when the previous Government campaigned in February 2023. Two weeks ago 156 new staff began their training as corrections officers—I believe the largest cohort that has been seen in recent years.Dr Tracey McLellan: Point of order Mr Speaker. That was all very interesting but the question clearly said about funding—is he confident that it is funded to provide all of these services? It's not about personnel.SPEAKER: I think you'll find it started with the word yes". Is that correct? Well I misunderstood. Do you want to add more?Hon MARK MITCHELL: Yes."