Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRobertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11553. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.GRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Leader—Labour)to theMinister of Education: Does she stand by all her statements?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):Tēnā koe e te Mana Kaiwhakahaere. Yes I do in the full context in which I made them.Grant Robertson: Given her statement at the weekend that there is “a danger of a shortage of tradespeople in New Zealand” is it correct that Tertiary Education Commission figures show a 20 percent drop in the number of apprentices since National’s first Budget in 2009?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I do stand by my statement—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question has been asked. I at least want to hear the answer.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I stand by my statement as I said in the full context and that was that this Government is committed to providing multiple pathways including vocational pathways that increase options for all our young people.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I appreciate the fact that I introduced the question by saying “Given her statement …” but the question I actually asked was whether it is correct that the Tertiary Education Commission—Mr SPEAKER: Why does the member not just ask the question again.Grant Robertson: What a good idea. Given her statement that there is “a danger of a shortage of tradespeople in New Zealand” is it correct that Tertiary Education Commission figures show a 20 percent drop in the number of apprentices since National’s first Budget in 2009?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am not responsible for the Tertiary Education Commission but I am happy to speak to my response which was about providing multiple pathways so that we could get more young people through. In my area what I know is that we have had an increase to 3700 young people participating in trades academies. We have had an increase to 8700 young people participating in Youth Guarantee pathways.Grant Robertson: I seek leave of the House to table figures from the Tertiary Education Commission industry training performance information that show that—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that information. Is there any objection? There is objection.Grant Robertson: Given her statement “that there is too much of a focus on channelling students to university and academic pathways” can she confirm that her Government cut $55 million from industry training in 2010 and gave it directly to universities?Hon HEKIA PARATA: As I said again I am not responsible for the tertiary education system but I can talk about the statement that I made which was that we are increasing the options for young people to have choices both the academic pathway and also the five vocational pathways that we have established and that parents and young people are very excited about.Grant Robertson: I know it is unusual to table press releases but this is from some time ago and the Minister was unable to answer. I seek leave of the House to table the press release from Steven Joyce—Mr SPEAKER: No. I am not—[Interruption ] Order! That is available to any—[Interruption ] Has the member got further supplementary questions?Grant Robertson: Given her statement that there is too much of a focus on channelling students to university and academic pathways has she raised with the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment why $83 million has been taken out of the polytech sector over the last three Budgets seeing thousands of student places cut and programmes in areas like automotive engineering carpentry and other core trades cut?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Again I am not the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment and the member could put that question to him. But the context of my statement was that this Government is committed to getting every kid across the line and giving them a range of options including tertiary academic pathways and the five vocational pathways that we have also established. This Government has put our money where our mouth is: we have invested in fees-free places for all these young people.Grant Robertson: Is it not correct that nearly 5 years in after a 20 percent reduction in the number of apprentices and millions of dollars being cut from polytechnic funding for trades courses the fault for the lack of tradespeople lies firmly with that Government over there?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am not the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment but my statement which the member was ostensibly interested in was about how we created more pathways for more young people to be successful because this Government is interested in giving every kid a chance.