Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Moroney Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:662;Page:10545] 
11. 
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does she still stand by her statement to the House on 1 April 2009 that “Quality early childhood education and care is a high priority for the Government.”? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Yes. 
Sue Moroney 
: Does she stand by her July 2008 promise with reference to Labour’s 20 hours free policy when she said “We will retain all the existing subsidies and fee controls” and will she repeat that promise now? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: During the election campaign we promised to retain the 20 hours’ free early childhood education and we will not be breaking that promise. 
Sue Moroney 
: What did she mean then when she told the Early Education Federation on 25 March that she “wants to work more on targeting the grant”? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have always been very clear with the early childhood sector that we need to do better with the very large and growing amount of funding that is going into early childhood education. I have shared with the sector on a number of occasions that we are examining closely the cost drivers. The cost of early childhood education has almost trebled over the last 5 years—almost trebled. We are not necessarily getting the participation from the groups that would benefit the most. 
Sue Moroney 
: How did she allow early childhood education to slip from being a high priority for her Government to now being included in the Minister of Finance’s definition of low-quality spending and up for Budget cuts? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I do not believe the Minister of Finance has ever said that. In fact if members look at the six priorities for this Government they will see that quality early childhood education is part of that. I heard the Minister of Finance talking just today about how much this Government values quality early childhood education. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does she agree with her statement to the  
New Zealand Herald  
on 29 January 2010 that evidence suggests that at least 20 hours of early childhood education per week from the age of 3 years provides the best support for future educational achievement; if so how would the Government justify any changes to fee increases for parents? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I am not aware of the context of that statement; I do not have it in front of me. But this Government is committed to ensuring that early childhood education remains affordable and accessible. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Does the Minister agree with Te Puni Kokiri’s paper on matauranga kohungahunga Maori that participation in early childhood education can benefit children’s school readiness result in improved learning reduce antisocial behaviours and possibly even improve health; if so will the Government maintain its commitment that from 1 July 2010 all kohanga reo and playcentres will also be eligible to offer 20 hours free early childhood education? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: The National Party campaigned on the promise that we would make parent-led centres also eligible for 20 hours of free early childhood education and we intend to honour that promise as the member stated from 1 July this year.