2. State and Social Housing—Availability and Accommodation SupplementPHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Social HousingState and Social Housing—Availability and Accommodation Supplement2. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Social Housing: Does her statement that the Prime Minister's commitment to 65000 Income Related Rent Subsidy places was for the number of places the Budget appropriation provides" mean she considers the commitment met even if there are not 65000 tenants actually housed using income-related rent subsidies?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for Social Housing): No. I would however like to make it clear that my reference on Tuesday to budgeted places can only ever be an estimate as we work in total dollar terms because the amount paid to any Income Related Rent Subsidy (IRRS) household varies significantly due to the personal circumstances of the household the rent they pay and the area they live in. In the former Prime Minister's speech the member is referring to the former Prime Minister made it clear he was targeting a $40 million a year increase in the appropriation. I can tell the member that from then until now it has in fact increased by $108 million a year.Phil Twyford: What is the point in creating ghost subsidy places if there are not actually going to be houses to put people in? Where are the people supposed to live?Hon AMY ADAMS: The member entirely misses the point which is that the important thing is the number of places we have available for people who qualify for a social house. That number currently sits at around 66000. We have indicated we want to take it to 72000. All of those—Phil Twyford: People aren't living in those 60— Hon AMY ADAMS: —Mr Twyford listen carefully now—places are eligible for an IRRS. Money is available. People can fill them whether they qualify for an IRRS or not. They are eligible for an IRRS.Phil Twyford: Is the reason she has changed the target that the Government has not built enough houses because it has taken $1.8 billion out of Housing New Zealand in taxes dividends and interest payments—enough to build 5000 new State houses?Hon AMY ADAMS: The member is simply wrong. The Government has increased the number of social houses available. The Government has increased the appropriation available to fund social housing places. The Government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars more than the Labour Government did and it is delivering stock that is not only more in number but is warmer dryer safer and more modern than the decrepit state of affairs we inherited from Labour.Dr Megan Woods: That wasn't the question. Try again.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was very definitely addressed and I do not need advice from Dr Megan Woods.Phil Twyford: Why does the Government not just build more State houses instead of using Housing New Zealand as a cash cow so that it does not have to continue spending millions of dollars every month putting homeless Kiwi families up in motels?Hon AMY ADAMS: Perhaps if the member did not talk all through my answers he would hear me say that we have created 66000 places and we have announced that we are on a plan to take that to 72000 houses. Seventy-two thousand is more than 66000. The number is going up we are spending more we are making them better and we are making them more fit for purpose.Phil Twyford: Will the Minister admit that creating social housing places or Budget appropriations is not the same thing as actual houses that people can live in with an IRRS?Hon AMY ADAMS: The 66000 social housing places are actual real houses with walls roofs kitchens plumbing and every single one of them is eligible to receive an IRRS. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford you have had your opportunity."