Bayly Andrew: Oral questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBayly Andrew: Oral questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 31 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2703. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW BAYLY (National—Hunua) to the Minister of Finance: What policy measures has the Government announced that will help to distribute dividends from the growing economy to New Zealand families and children?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): A number of measures will come into place on 1 April that will help families and children. Paid parental leave will increase by 2 weeks to 16 weeks and by another 2 weeks from 1 April next year. The parental tax credit will rise from $150 a week to $220 a week. The entitlement will increase from 8 weeks to 10 weeks. The Government’s HomeStart scheme will begin and this is likely to help around 90000 Kiwis into their first home over the next 5 years. Average ACC work levies paid by employers and the self-employed will fall from 95c to 90c per $100. And New Zealand superannuation will increase by another 2 percent meaning that it has increased by 31 percent since April 2008 more than double the rate of inflation in that time. These things are possible because we have a stronger economy we have resilient New Zealanders and we have a Government that is managing its finances.Andrew Bayly: Following the policy changes on 1 April what other Government measures will take effect in the next few months that will benefit families?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Some of these changes are just the normal changes you would expect in an economy that is going somewhere. The annual cost of living adjustment for all benefit rates and student allowances will of course occur. The adult minimum wage will rise from $14.25 an hour to $14.75 an hour an increase in the last 12 months of 3.5 percent which is not bad given that inflation today is around zero. Further there will be other policies coming into effect from 1 July including children under 13 having access to free GP visits and the ACC levy for private motor vehicles will fall by around $130 a year—a very significant decrease in the cost of registering a car. Again these policies are possible—a 3.5 percent increase in the minimum wage—because our economy is showing it can grow in a sustainable way.Andrew Bayly: What reports has he received about how the growing economy is further helping families to get ahead?Hon BILL ENGLISH: There are a number of reports that confirm that we are in a phase of sustainable growth—that is growth that generates moderate but consistent benefits for families. A number of them I have listed but there are others. Eighty thousand new jobs have been created across New Zealand in the last 12 months and labour market participation is at a record 69.7 percent—that is more Kiwis have confidence in getting a job than has ever been the case before. Average weekly wages rose 2.5 percent in the calendar year 2014 during which time inflation was less than 1 percent and mortgage interest rates are staying lower for longer assisting families with their cash flow.Andrew Bayly: According to the official statistics how do latest average wage increases compare with inflation and how does this compare with historical movements?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The survey used by all Governments to set national superannuation rates shows average weekly wages rose 2.5 percent in the 12 months to 31 December. Annual inflation in that period was 0.8 percent. In the last 5 years average wages have increased by 15 percent and they are forecast to keep rising moderately and faster than the cost of living. This is contrasted with the position that we inherited from the previous Government where wages were barely keeping pace with consumer price inflation of 5 percent per year at a time when first mortgage rates were over 10 percent.Sue Moroney: I seek leave for a bill extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks to be introduced and debated next members’ day—because it would win now.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular bill. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is.