3. Housing Affordability and Availability—ChildrenANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterHousing Affordability and Availability—Children3. ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Has he had any meetings with his housing Ministers regarding how the housing crisis is affecting children?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): I disagree with the member that there is a housing crisis but of course housing is a key area of focus for this Government and I have had a number of meetings with Ministers on housing and how it affects New Zealanders and their families. That is why the Government has a comprehensive housing plan to address the issue of rising house prices.Andrew Little: Before he gets on his high horse—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Can I just ask the member to start the question.Andrew Little: Yes. Fair enough Mr Speaker. Why has the number of homeless families with kids surged by 44 percent on his watch?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I would need to check the validity of the member's number. What I can say though is that the Government is moving more people into social housing more rapidly than we have seen for a long period of time and is providing nearly $2 billion in housing support and accommodation supplements. I am pleased to say on a somewhat related issue we have insulated nearly 300000 homes across New Zealand.Andrew Little: I seek leave to table a Parliamentary Library report showing a 44 percent increase in the number of homeless families with dependent children.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that information from the Parliamentary Library. Is there any objection? There is no objection. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Andrew Little: Given that his Government has reduced the number of State houses available by more than 2500 does he take responsibility for the fact that there are now 10000 homeless kids in New Zealand?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is quite incorrect on both parts of his question.Andrew Little: What does he say to Jan Tinetti principal of Merivale School in Tauranga who says of her kids: Some are dead in the eyes they have no emotion at all. This is happening on a daily basis at my school. I dread families telling me they have no housing. There is just no housing left. I feel hopeless. Mums [are] in my office in absolute tears because they don't know what to do …"?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: What the Government has been doing for the most vulnerable New Zealanders in that area is making sure that they get the support that they need and that includes the additional $50-odd million that we put into the Budget. We are seeing more people moving on to social housing—about 150 extra a week. But of course if the person that the member mentions does not have a house to live in then I suggest that in the first instance they go to Work and Income and Work and Income will be providing them with support.Andrew Little: When he gives advice to the people whom Jan Tinetti was talking about to go to Work and Income what does he say to those who have gone to Work and Income and 217 days later are still waiting to be placed in suitable housing?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is the very point is it not? When people go to see Work and Income if they register that for instance they are in the most vulnerable of living conditions—a house or a tent—what in fact happens is that Work and Income do move them into a form of accommodation. It could be a motel it could be some other form of accommodation—it depends on their circumstances. But then ultimately over time they get into a permanent residence and that is happening more quickly. So in fact that is the very point: by going into Work and Income they do get the support.Andrew Little: Why did he vote last week to protect offshore property speculators while children in this country are sleeping in cars and garages?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is making it up.Andrew Little: With Paula Bennett admitting that there is a homelessness crisis and Nick Smith finally conceding that he has lost control of the Auckland housing market why will he not just adopt Labour's comprehensive housing plan which will see 100000 houses being built 1000 State houses being built each year and 5000 more places for emergency housing each year?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes we may as well adopt Labour's housing plan. We can also adopt Labour's internal polling and by the way we will be living in fairyland pixieland or Disneyland—I do not know which but you can choose."