4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Hon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all of the Government's statements policies and actions in relation to the economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Yes in the context in which they were given made and undertaken. Hon Amy Adams: How does he reconcile his statement that the Government is making solid progress on improving the well-being of New Zealanders with data out today that shows the job market now has 4000 fewer jobs in it than it did three months ago despite our growing population—fewer jobs for more people?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I would justify that by the following statistics released today: the unemployment rate falling to 4.2 percent in the March quarter from 4.3 percent the second lowest since December 2008; wages growing 3.4 percent over the year on average ordinary time hourly earnings; the underutilisation rate falling to 11.3 percent the lowest rate since the December 2008 quarter; the NEET rate falling although we want to see it fall a bit further; and the number of employed people rising by 38200 people from a year ago. That's how I would justify that statement.Hon Amy Adams: Well has he seen reports out today from the ANZ commenting on the latest statistics that note that the very slight drop in the unemployment rate was only because of a decline in participation with employment growth actually falling over the last quarter?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I've seen the whole statement from the ANZ which includes the following: The labour market is currently in good shape."Hon Amy Adams: Does he think that the well-being of New Zealanders has been improved by facing rents that are $50 a week higher under this Government according to Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment statistics?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I understand that for everybody who pays rent they monitor very closely the fluctuations in rent. I can say that between February and March the geometric mean rents—which we know we've covered in this House before—have in fact fallen.Hon Amy Adams: Is the well-being of New Zealanders being improved by facing electricity prices up to 40 percent higher because of the Government's renewable energy target as confirmed by the interim Climate Commission?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I reject the premise in that question.Hon Amy Adams: Is the well-being of New Zealanders being improved as he's claimed when the number of New Zealanders on a benefit has gone up by 13000 people over the last year?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As the Prime Minister has already stated in fact if we look at the various March years right the way back I think to 2014 we would see that in fact the working-age population on a main benefit is lower at this point than in future. But what I do want to do is thank the member for constantly referencing the well-being Budget.Hon Amy Adams: Well is it a sign that the well-being of New Zealanders is improving when the number of New Zealanders who now need emergency housing grants has gone up more than 300 percent under his Government?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I think everyone in this House shares the view that we need to do more in New Zealand to deal with the housing crisis that developed over the last decade. What this Government has done is got on with building more houses including around 1600 houses in the past year and 6400 over the next four years. We are actually committed to making the changes and we actually acknowledged that there was a housing crisis unlike what that member did for the last nine years."