6. Question No. 6—Social DevelopmentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 6—Social Development6. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by all her policies and actions?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Yes. In particular I stand by our investment into 263 extra employment-focused case managers $26 million to support people with disabilities or health conditions to find and stay in employment nearly $50 million into Mana in Mahi to support our young people into sustainable work encouraging women in trades through the Kiwi Can Do programme up to $3 million to help people get their drivers licences and the 92000 New Zealanders who have found work under this Government.Hon Louise Upston: Why are there 22205 more people on the jobseeker support benefit than there were in September 2017?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: It's so important to keep these figures in context. Currently we have the lowest unemployment rate that we have had for over a decade at 3.9 percent. The proportion of the working-age population is 10 percent; five years ago it was 10.7 percent. The raw figures are up and I have been advised that there are a number of issues with regards to how that has occurred—population increase is one. Also there has been a softening in certain sectors including manufacturing an area where many clients that come to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) for support would potentially go in to. Also because of the low unemployment rate that we're experiencing at the moment employers are actually looking for skilled workers which is why we as a Government are focused on upskilling and training.Hon Louise Upston: Does the Minister believe that people are better off in work than on the dole?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: This side of the House is absolutely focused on supporting New Zealanders who are able to take up employment. The many initiatives that I rattled off at the beginning really demonstrate that clearly. When we came into office we realised that there had been a decline in support that was work-focused at MSD offices and we moved quickly to make sure that we injected that front-line resource so that when clients go into MSD offices not only do they get the hardship support or the financial support that they need to stabilise their financial situation but they also get the proactive employment support that they need as well.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What is the Government doing to support disabled people and people with health conditions into employment and training?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We know that over half of the people on main benefits have a disability or health condition or are caring for someone who has a disability or health condition. That's why it's so important that we invest in breaking down barriers to employment for those who are able to work. We invested more into the Oranga Mahi programme which is a partnership with several primary health organisations and district health boards to support disabled people and people with health conditions to find and stay in employment and to support them with their wider wellbeing needs. We're also in the process of consulting on our first ever disability employment action plan. I think that's a very positive step. This Government is delivering changes to ensure all New Zealanders can achieve their potential.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What is the Government doing to support young people into employment and training?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Under this Government the number of youth not in employment education or training has fallen to 69000 down 19000. We have seen a continuing decrease in the number of young people accessing youth payment and young parent payment; that's because we are investing in our young people. Through Mana in Mahi we are providing apprenticeships and an industry training pathway that can lead to sustainable employment for young people. Our Accelerator programme has been jointly developed by The Warehouse the Ministry of Social Development and Youth Hub as a digital environment for young people to access on-the-job workplace training programmes and connect with potential employers. MSD's He Poutama Taitamariki project in Northland supports young people into sustainable employment underpinned by intensive pastoral care. Unlike the previous Government we don't give up on our young people.Hon Louise Upston: Given her answer that the employers are seeking highly skilled people to fill their vacancies why has the Government increased the number of Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme (RSE) workers by more than 3000 when the number on the dole has increased by close to 7000 in the last three months?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There is no such thing as the dole in this country; I think she's referring to the jobseekers benefit. Where people are able we support people to take up the jobs that are in the horticulture industry. Not everyone is able to pick fruit unlike what that side of the House infers. The employers in the horticulture industry want people who are fit want people that are able to get to those jobs—transport is often an issue—and actually employees have told us that not only is transport an issue with regards to getting to those jobs sometimes but accommodation in those places is often an issue as well. So despite the fact that there may have been an increase in the number of RSE workers that will be allowed in to work in that sector we still have a very strong domestic employment focus in making sure that both are able to help those employers get the fruit off the trees and add to our economy. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Before I ask the member to go on there are a couple of members that I'd just like to turn the volume down a little bit. Marja Lubeck you are coming through the Minister's mike even from way back there. And can I say to the Hon Shane Jones who I've previously described as a parrot repeating words the fact that he translates words as he repeats them doesn't help at all. There is a translation for those people who want to have a translation; they just use a different channel.Hon Louise Upston: Does she believe her $50 million youth employment initiative like Mana in Mahi is working?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yes. I've had very positive feedback. One example was that I was in Christchurch at a barbershop a week and a half ago where an employer has taken on a young man who's 18 years old who personally felt he was heading down the wrong track. Within a few weeks of starting that role his boss encouraged him to enter a national haircutting competition and he took out best fade in the country. That guy says to me that that work is not only a job; to him it's a hobby. This is about meaningful and sustainable employment—a great example of Mana in Mahi working.Hon Louise Upston: Why then is there a record number—over 28000—of people under the age of 25 on jobseeker support?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: When we see the raw figures go up for any group then we also see it lift for young people. I'm heartened by the fact though that we have seen a reduction in the youth parent payment and the youth payment and that we did see when the last results came out that the number of young people that are not in education employment or training has dropped significantly.