Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:645;Page:14529] 
12.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Is she satisfied with the Ministry of Social Development’s system for awarding contracts? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Yes I am satisfied that the Ministry of Social Development has a system in place that is consistent with the Government’s best-practice guidelines. The document  
Guidelines for Social Services Contracting 
 sets out the standards and procedural requirements for the full contracting cycle including the selection process. I expect the Ministry of Social Development to follow these guidelines in all instances. 
Judith Collins 
: Would she expect Work and Income staff to check bankruptcy notices before they award wage or training subsidies to employers; if so can she explain why in 2002-03 Work and Income Porirua awarded a contract to Graham Carden to train 12 beneficiaries in karaoke over the Christmas holiday period even though he was an undischarged bankrupt at that time? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: No I cannot and I would expect that if the member had wanted such detail of an operational nature she may well have wanted to raise those issues in the primary question; but as she has raised them I will be happy to provide that information for her when I have it available to me. 
Sue Moroney 
: What are the principles for contracting social services set out in the  
Guidelines for Social Services Contracting 
? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Guiding principles for all Ministry of Social Development social services contracts are that these contracts will contribute to the achievement of Government outcomes and objectives; meet Government and public expectations of accountability transparency and value for money; be responsive to the needs of clients the labour market and the community; strive for quality outcomes for clients families and the broader community; and minimise risks associated with the services. 
Judith Collins 
: Can the Minister explain why the Ministry of Social Development’s chief executive now says that all 12 signed agreement forms between individual beneficiaries Work and Income and Graham Carden’s company have now disappeared even though the Department of Internal Affairs began investigating Mr Carden in 2005 and he was jailed in 2007 for fraud relating to false grant applications—how is it that every single client application form and record has disappeared? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I refer the member to my answer to her previous supplementary question. 
Judith Collins 
: Why would Work and Income pay Graham Carden $50000 in wage and training subsidies when he was an undischarged bankrupt and had already pleaded guilty to two other charges of trading while insolvent; and what assurances can the Minister provide that the scheme which has paid out over $300 million since 1999 is properly monitored when contracts are awarded to undischarged bankrupts and when client records in relation to those contracts just seem to be disappearing? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I refer the member to my answer to her previous supplementary question. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table a bankruptcy notice for Graham Carden. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table a newspaper report headlined “Former league boss traded while insolvent”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave of the House to table the reply under the Official Information Act that that Minister’s chief executive gave to our office regarding this very case. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection.