8. Question No. 8—EducationERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 8—Education8. ERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of Education: Why didn't she at the earliest possible opportunity correct her answer on 22 February where she stated I can categorically tell that member that the Ministry of Education is responsible for the data. I have no say over that" given she stated yesterday that "my staff verbally informed me after question time on 22 February that members of my staff had been in correspondence with the Ministry of Education regarding the timing of term 3 attendance data release" and why did her staff ask the ministry to release the attendance data after her attendance announcement? Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): To the first part of the question because even with that knowledge I stood by my answers in the House on 22 February that attendance is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. I did not sign out the data or approve the release date. To the second part of the question a key purpose of why the Government has increased the frequency of attendance data reporting is to raise awareness about the importance of attendance. It wouldn't have been uncommon for the ministry in consultation with their Minister's office to time the release to be able to promote a positive message about this turning around. Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. Thank you Mr Speaker. In relation to the second part of the primary question the Minister gave an interesting commentary about the importance of attendance data but did not address the question about why her staff asked the ministry to release the data when it did. Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker—I mean I'd hesitate to say something which is in your domain. But the full answer—while the member quoted the second part of the Minister's answer she definitely addressed the question in the final part of the answer. SPEAKER: I'm not sure that the Minister has so I'm going to give Erica Stanford two extra questions. Erica Stanford: Thank you Mr Speaker. In relation to the first part of the answer she just gave does she understand that she is responsible for the actions of the staff in her office and when they informed her that they had in fact been involved in the timing of the release of the data why did she not immediately come down to the House and correct her answer? Hon JAN TINETTI: I stand by the first part of my answer which is that even with the knowledge I stood by my answers in the House on 22 February. That attendance data is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. I did not sign out the data or approve the release date. Erica Stanford: Point of order Mr Speaker. My question was around does she understand that she is responsible for the actions of her staff and if so why didn't she correct her answer—and none of that was addressed. Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker. Questions framed with does somebody understand something are very very open and the member gave an answer about her understanding. SPEAKER: I don't think I can help the member any more than the two extra questions that I've given. It's the way you know you—I suggest asking a question that has just one leg to it—one part. Erica Stanford: Is the Minister of Education responsible for the actions of her staff when they emailed the Ministry of Education to delay the release of the attendance data? Hon JAN TINETTI: I do take responsibility for the actions of my staff. Erica Stanford: In light of that answer why is it that the Minister of Education being responsible for the actions of her staff did not come down to the House and correct the answer to her question when they told her that they had in fact been involved in the release of the data? Hon JAN TINETTI: Because at the time I felt that my answer still stood and was correct. Erica Stanford: Wasn't her announcement yesterday asking the Ministry of Education to produce a schedule of when attendance data would be released a way of her directing blame to the Ministry of Education when emails show it was her office that determined the release date of the term 3 data to coincide with her political announcement?Hon JAN TINETTI: No.Erica Stanford: Why then is she now calling for a release of the timetable from the Ministry of Education when a timetable was already provided to her on 4 November which clearly sets out the dates for release of attendance data for terms 3 4 and 1?Hon JAN TINETTI: I have asked the Ministry of Education to consider putting those dates on to the website.Erica Stanford: Point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a briefing from 4 November released to me under the Official Information Act from the Ministry of Education containing that schedule of release dates.SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. It may be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Erica Stanford: Whose authority were her staff acting on when they sent an email on 9 February to the Ministry of Education stating that "FYI The Minister's office are looking to potentially release the Term 3 attendance data early next week." when the Ministry of Education schedule from 4 November was clear about when they wanted to release the data prior to the new year?Hon JAN TINETTI: I was unaware of that email when I came to the House on 22 February.Erica Stanford: Point of order Mr Speaker. I don't believe that my question was addressed around whose authority they were acting under.Hon JAN TINETTI: I don't know. [Interruption]SPEAKER: You're lucky I wasn't on my feet. Well it's now answered. Have you got any more supplementaries? Thank you"