9. Budget 2017—Mental Health and Addiction Services FundingDr DAVID CLARK (Labour—Dunedin North) to the Minister of HealthBudget 2017—Mental Health and Addiction Services Funding9. Dr DAVID CLARK (Labour—Dunedin North) to the Minister of Health: Did he take a specific package of new initiatives for mental health and addiction services for Budget 2017 to a Cabinet committee before 31 March this year?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): No it was actually in early April.Dr David Clark: What were the initiatives proposed in the package for mental health services particularly those that were not in the Budget day announcements?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: The Government announced on Budget day that we would be spending $224 million over the next 4 years in mental health. Part of that was $100 million detailed in a paper taken to the Cabinet social policy committee on 12 April entitled Supporting innovation in mental health. That was a joint paper taken with Amy Adams the Minister responsible for Social Investment. I can quote further: The result of the Budget 2017 process was the establishment of a cross-Government mental health contingency described in the publicly released Budget material as: "this contingency will be used to trial early mental health interventions that are proven to significantly benefit people's lives. The contingency creates the flexibility to fund initiatives that currently require more development or other initiatives identified across the social and justice sectors. A criteria for access to the contingency is being considered by Ministers." So it is part of this new approach to mental health issues which acknowledges that it is beyond just the boundaries of the health portfolio—part of the social investment cross-Government approach.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister was quoting from an official document—a Cabinet committee paper. I believe I requested he table that.Mr SPEAKER: That is easily solved. Was the Minister using an official paper as he gave the answer?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: No. These are mine. Dr David Clark: What initiatives did he take that were not accepted by the Cabinet committee? Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Oh I am sure the member would like to know all sorts of things about the mechanics of the Budget process but he should go and read the Budget and understand it fully—especially the difference between core Crown funding and Vote Health. Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very specific question. It is in the Minister's power to say that he does not believe it is in the public interest to answer it rather than giving a smart-arse answer. Mr SPEAKER: I heard the interjection but I do not think it was in the answer. I am going to invite the member to ask that question again. Dr David Clark: What were the initiatives in the package that were not accepted by the Cabinet committee? Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Look when we make the Budget package and pull it together there is a wide range of ideas and initiatives that we discuss but in the end the publicly available information is published on Budget day and that is the Government's agenda.Dr David Clark: Why did he cut primary mental health funding for Capital and Coast District Health Board by 8 percent in the current year?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Let us be quite clear: the funding for mental health has gone up by $224 million and there has been very specific funding allocated to Capital and Coast District Health Board in the Budget. It has had an extra $229 million over the last 7 years and there is the ability for that district health board (DHB) to allocate money to services as the board and the senior executives see fit. So look this fiction about cuts in the health budget—Grant Robertson: It's not a fiction Jonathan.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: It is a total fiction. I can tell you we have increased the health budget by $5 billion. Labour's wish list is I think $7.3 billion. It is an argument over the size of the increase but you cannot describe an increase in Vote Health as a cut because frankly it is just not true.Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very specific question about the cut to Capital—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No no no. I listened to the question and on this occasion—Dr David Clark: I seek leave to table a document that shows a cut of 8 percent in Capital—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! All I need is the source of the document and the date. Dr David Clark: The document is received under the Official Information Act from Capital and Coast dated 28 February 2017.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that letter from Capital and Coast District Health Board. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is objection. Dr David Clark: Why did he cut primary mental health funding for Hutt Valley District Health Board by 20 percent in the current year? Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Look once again that is completely incorrect. There has not been a cut in the money given to Hutt Valley District Health Board. Hutt Valley's money has gone up overall. It is going to be receiving across the vote—across the district health boards—$224 million extra for mental health—[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: —in this Budget. I can tell you that Hutt Valley has received an extra $102 million over the course of this Government and it is free to allocate money as it sees fit but the mental health budget at Hutt Valley has not been cut. Dr David Clark: I seek leave to table a document that details—Mr SPEAKER: Order! All I need is the—Dr David Clark: —a 20 percent cut in mental health funding—Mr SPEAKER: Date.Dr David Clark: —in the Hutt Valley DHB dated 22 February 2017.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular letter from the Hutt Valley DHB. Is there any objection? There is objection."