Pillay Lynne: Social Assistance (Debt Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Pillay Lynne: Social Assistance (Debt Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:645;Page:14808] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I am very happy to speak today in support of the Social Assistance (Debt Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Bill. This is a very sensible and common-sense bill. It is intended to— 
Christopher Finlayson 
: What does it provide? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The member knows what the bill provides and if he sits quietly and listens I will tell him about it. The bill works very hard to enable prisoners to not incur debts while in prison through some mistake in payments whether it is to do with benefits loans or allowances. I think that is a very sensible thing. I heard Russell Fairbrother say before that when people are in prison it puts stress and anxiety on their families. Indeed to have debt mounting—and debt mounting through mistake—is not a good thing and it would certainly add to the stress of those families. So I think there are some very good common-sense moves in this bill. 
I think it is very important to note that this bill will not change the rules for prisoners wanting to take up study whilst in prison. It will not make it difficult for prisoners to undertake study to improve their prospects on release. That is a very important thing. Prisoners will continue— 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Why? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The member asks why it is important. That is the sort of question I would expect from Chris Finlayson. Someone who works in the law profession asked why it is important that prisoners have the opportunity to study in prison. Well I will tell him. It is important because it gives prisoners options and opportunities when they leave prison. Under this bill prisoners will continue to have the same access to assistance with study course costs as if they were out of prison; it is assistance for student living costs that will be restricted. That means that for prisoners the right to assistance with course costs is not taken away. The change simply puts in place systems to identify clearly applications for student allowances and living costs because for prisoners living costs will be met at that time through the corrections system. 
The other thing which I do not know whether other speakers have mentioned is the very constructive suggestion from the Social Services Committee about having Work and Income representatives at court. Madam Assistant Speaker I think I saw you nodding rather wisely there. I think this is the first time I have spoken in this House since you have been in the Chair— 
Phil Heatley 
: Since your maiden speech. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: —and it is a real privilege. No it is not since my maiden speech as that member well knows. I think the select committee commented that it was very concerned that some circumstances might prevent beneficiaries who are entering prison from receiving notification that their benefits were to be cut as a result of a data match. The suggestion was that Work and Income consider placing representatives at major courts to adjust the benefits immediately when a recipient is imprisoned. This would serve to prevent any stress whatsoever to family members and obviously it would be the system working in a very logical way. 
This bill is very important. In amending the legislation it allows a better sharing of information between the Ministry of Social Development the Department of Corrections the New Zealand Customs Service and the Accident Compensation Corporation. We know that this better sharing of information will prevent recipients of allowances loans and benefits from accumulating debt. As I said before that is a very sensible common-sense move. I think that the support for this bill certainly reflects that. I am very happy to stand in this House and commend this bill. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. 
Bill read a second time.