9. Question No. 9—HealthMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 9—Health9. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of Health: How much of the $1.9 billion allocated for mental health and drug addiction services in Budget 2019 has been committed for mental health and addiction treatment services and how much if any of that allocation to mental health and addiction treatment services has been spent to date?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Health): Of the $1.9 billion around $1 billion is allocated to Vote Health services. Of the $150 million of Vote Health funding from the Budget 2019 mental health and wellbeing package that was available in 2019-20 approximately $125 million of that funding has been committed. As at the end of May 2020 of this $125 million around $110 million has been spent.Matt Doocey: In light of that answer when the Government's own mental health inquiry indicative target is to increase access to mental health and addiction services from 3 percent to 20 percent of the population what increased level of access is he expecting to deliver from the stated $125 million spent to date?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Government's always been very clear that the funding allocated is for a four-year programme of work that the spending profile of that is the smallest in the first year and that it increases as additional capability and capacity is developed. Some of the big investments early on in the programme are around workforce development for example. We can't provide better front-line services to New Zealanders if we don't have the workforce to be able to deliver that. So there is a heavy emphasis on that at the moment. But there are already improvements happening across a whole variety of initiatives. I've got about 20 or 30 of them listed in front of me and if the member wants to ask me about any specific one of them I'll give it my best crack at answering it.Matt Doocey: In light of the answer of the roll-out of four years after that four-year programme if the Minister is going to spend $1 billion what level of service is he expecting to deliver within that frame from the mental health inquiry of 3 percent to 20 percent?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It's interesting that the member's given up on the next election already. Of course the overall level of funding will depend on who the Government is and on this side of the House we'll let our record speak for itself.Matt Doocey: The question was: under his own forecasting when he allocated $1 billion to a four-year roll-out if his own mental health inquiry said access needed to increase from 3 percent to 20 percent what level of access is he expecting to reach after spending $1 billion after four years?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Of course we'll get as close to that as we can.Matt Doocey: In light of the previous Minister's answers and challenge to talk about one specific service why when asked written question No. 10111 How much if any of the $8 million invested over four years for improving responses for up to 15000 people a year who turn up at hospital emergency departments needing mental health support announced in Budget 2019" has not one dollar been spent to date delivering that service?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If the member wants an answer that specific regarding a written parliamentary question and answer given by the previous Minister of Health I suggest he puts that down and I'd be happy to come back to him."