King Colin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Colin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 07 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17563. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.COLIN KING (National—Kaikōura) to theMinister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: What further steps is the Government taking to increase the number of apprentices in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Yesterday the Prime Minister announced that Budget 2014 will contain an additional $20 million to expand the Government’s very successful apprenticeship reboot scheme by an additional 6000 places. The extra funding means a total of 20000 apprentices are now eligible for the reboot scheme. Under the reboot apprentices or trainees who sign up for training have been able to apply for a subsidy of $1000 towards the cost of tools and off-job course costs or a subsidy of $2000 for those in priority trades. Employers are also eligible for a similar payment. The reboot is proving successful in getting more apprenticeships under way especially in the priority trades we need for the rebuilding of Christchurch and the housing construction boom in Auckland. It is giving Kiwis vital vocational skills that will set them up for their working lives while meeting the needs of a growing economy.Colin King: What other actions is the Government taking to increase the profile of apprenticeships?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: A big part of the vocational training story in New Zealand has always been apprenticeships but under Labour the importance of apprenticeships slipped in favour of more generic industry training which in many cases involved a lot of short courses and very low levels of completion. This Government has created the newNew Zealand Apprenticeships which are a premier vocational pathway into an industry-based career for New Zealanders. The new apprenticeships provide the same level of support and the same level of subsidy for all apprentices regardless of their age. We have increased funding support for each apprenticeship and boosted their educational content as well. This Government is very committed to raising the skill levels of New Zealanders as part of our Business Growth Agenda.Colin King: How does the Government’s work around apprenticeships feed into the wider employment picture in the economy?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well that is a very good question. Today’s household labour force survey confirms that the hard work of New Zealanders with the support of the Government over the past few years is paying off. Eighty-four thousand more New Zealanders are in jobs compared with a year ago. That is the largest growth in jobs in New Zealand in a decade. Labour force participation is at its highest level ever and is now very much higher than Australia. Through our comprehensive Business Growth Agenda the Government has a very strong focus on creating the opportunities for competitive businesses to invest and employ more people.Carol Beaumont: What specific steps has the Government taken to increase the number of women in apprenticeships given the appallingly low levels in industrieswhere there are significant skill shortages and where temporary migrant labour is consequently required such as in building and construction where only 1 percent of trainees in 2013 were women?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member raises a very interesting question in terms of the occupational preferences of different people. The reality is that she is right of course. There are less people involved in the construction trades who are women than men—Hon Trevor Mallard: Fewer—you’re the Minister for Tertiary Education; get it right.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There are many things I do not take a lecture on from you Trevor Mallard and one is the English language. The good news though for the member is that there are many more women involved in some of the higher level university study courses than men so I am sure it balances out over time.Carol Beaumont: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That answer made no attempt to answer the question about specific steps around women in apprenticeships.Mr SPEAKER: It was a very long-winded question. The Minister has addressed it. I accept that it may not be to the satisfaction of the member. If the member wants to take the matter forward the way is to ask further incisive supplementary questions.