9. Question No. 9—EducationNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 9—Education9. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Education: Can she confirm that children's average wait-times for early intervention services have increased from 74 days in May 2018 to 101 days; if so does she take responsibility for this result? Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education): In answer to the first part of the question the ministry informs me that the member's figures are incorrect. As at 31 May 2018 the average waiting time for support from the early intervention services was 99.62 days. I can confirm as at 31 January 2020 the average wait-time is 101 days. In answer to the second part of the question: yes and that is why between 1 July 2018 and 31 January 2019 we have increased our overall specialist service workforce by 96 fulltime-equivalents. It will take time for this workforce to adjust. With this workforce investment and the new ways of working being trialled by the ministry specialists across the country as part of the learning support delivery model I expect waiting times to continue to decrease over the next 12 months. Nicola Willis: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have a bit of a dilemma on our hands because of course this primary question was authenticated with the Clerks. Those facts were verified with evidence and now the Minister's disputing them. SPEAKER: That's all right—well the Minister can say she doesn't agree with the question. That's a practice that's been going on at least since I started listening to Parliament in the 1970s. Nicola Willis: Does she stand by her recent statements in Facebook videos that the use of the phrase wait-time" is misleading; if so why? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Yes I do and I would give you this response: when a student is on the wait-list it doesn't necessarily mean they are not being supported in any other way. Currently the ministry's case management system only catches comprehensive data on individual supports for children while waiting for more tailored support. Most parents will have been offered some initial advice guidance and strategies to support their children. A number will have also attended group workshops for parents and children with similar needs—e.g. a workshop on supporting language development or managing behaviour. Some parents may also have attended our Incredible Years Autism course an intensive 14-week programme specifically designed for parents and teachers of children aged from two to five on the autism spectrum. Some children will be supported through a teacher-focused intervention in early learning services such as the Oral Language and Literacy Initiative. The ministry also provides resources to support teachers to better meet the needs of children who have been identified as needing additional support including Much More than Words which is a communication-focused programme and other programmes around emotional competence and so on. I seek leave to table the document that the member just spoke about in her last question which outlines the process by which the wait-list is calculated and the actions taken while children are waiting. SPEAKER: Is that a document which is generally available? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: It's been created by me. It is on my Facebook video but I don't think—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Order! There is a point of order and a response to me. I am going to put it because there is a question of general availability and while some members might be friends with the member I don't even think that I am. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is none. Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Nicola Willis: What phrase would she prefer that families used to describe the months of time they spend waiting for a specialist appointment from this Government's early intervention service? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Thank you. Under priority three of the Learning Support Action Plan work is under way with the Ministry of Health to develop and test integrated approaches to improve seamless access to support for young children and their whānau through the child development and a number of local proposals are being developed within our regions. One of the areas that the Ministry of Education is looking at is actually changing the way that the wait times as such are identified and recognised—because the member continues to suggest that nothing is happening for these children and that is not true. Nicola Willis: Why was the phrase "wait-time" appropriate when the Prime Minister promised to reduce them in 2018 and somehow not appropriate now that the Minister is failing to deliver the promised reduction? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: The phrase "wait-time" was actually created by the National Government when it decided to—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Hon TRACEY MARTIN: I can't help the truth Mr Speaker. That wait time—SPEAKER: The member has finished. I mean it's bad enough having it coming from one side but being chipped as part of an answer is not good either."