Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): Thank you very much Mr Chair. Again this bill has generated quite a bit of passionate discussion this afternoon. I'd like to turn our attention to a part of the bill Part 1 and clauses 8 and 9 which talks about adjustments of the rates of the main benefits and the inclusion of new sections 452A and 453. We've heard a bit of debate around those mandatory adjustments and the impact that that's actually going to have on beneficiaries as the time comes closer to 2023.I wonder if the Minister for Social Development could answer whether any other options were considered in terms of assisting people on main benefits. The reason I'm asking that is because there are other ways that perhaps we could assist people who are in the most desperate times—and I'm thinking about our superannuation beneficiaries and those on single-parent benefits. One of the options that I have for the Minister to consider is to increase the Rates Rebate Scheme and I wonder whether that was ever contemplated as part of the assessment for beneficiaries. I do know that as local government rates increase—and for some of them we're now getting into double figures every year—that has a significant impact on them. If it's not directly through their local government authority it is actually via their rent which their landlords of course are responsible for paying. So whatever way it is imposed it is still those people that are covering the cost of that.We know that the impact of this adjustment of their benefits is going to have a pretty insignificant impact by the time we get to 2023. I feel that there could have been something done in a lot more urgency with a lot more immediate impact which would have had quite a tangible effect. So I want to just really get some reassurance from the Minister that all options have been investigated in terms of this.We know that those people that are on those single-parent incomes are responsible for a very precious part of our society and that is the children. I do give credit to Minister Tracey Martin for continuing the very important work that was initiated around the social investment approach. We know from all of the research that was done and that was used in making that decision that children who are brought up in benefit-dependent households have certain indicators that do not bode well for them. If we can make life a little bit easier in some of the outgoings that those households are responsible for such as rates and rent then perhaps we will make better headway with their lives.We know that children in benefit households are more likely to leave school without NCEA level 2. We know that they are more likely to have contact with Child Youth and Family and with the Department of Corrections before they are 18. So anything that can be done to lighten the load on those families will be greatly appreciated and especially for our superannuitants. By the time most of our superannuitants have reached retirement age they are in their own home. I know what a huge relief it was when the Rates Rebate Scheme came in and the relief it brought them in simply applying for a little bit of rebate on those rates because they are starting to get away. So those are my contribution questions. Thank you.