6. Question No. 6—EducationJO LUXTON (Labour) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 6—Education6. JO LUXTON (Labour) to the Minister of Education: What responses has he seen to the vocational education reform proposals he announced last week?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I've seen a number of positive responses from polytechs and institutes of technology. Whitireia and WelTec have welcomed the proposal to broaden the role of polytechs to support people studying on campus through blended delivery and in the workplace. Toi Ohomai agree that it's time for a step change and for the value of vocational education to be fully appreciated across our society and they believe that the proposed changes are about improving student experience and learner outcomes. And the chair of the Universal College of Learning has said that they welcome the opportunity to reach out to and work closely with industry training organisations.Jo Luxton: What other responses has he seen to last week's announcement?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Sector Workforce Engagement Programme (SWEP) a trucking sector workforce engagement programme said that the reforms offer an opportunity to end needless course duplication. They would provide better coverage nationally and potentially greater integration for their sector between the industry training organisation and the driver training departments at polytechnics. Kerre McIvor has said that the reforms were necessary not just because polytechs were in constant need of bail outs but because they're not delivering the graduates … employers want" which has been the message from employers for quite some time.Jo Luxton: What concerns has he seen in regards to the proposals for the reform of vocational education?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I have seen some genuine concerns raised through the process including concerns that the proposal could result in less education and training in the regions. They are wrong. That's what the status quo is delivering. Our goal is more education and training in the regions—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Yeah right! It would be a good Tui billboard.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: —would you like to ask a question Dr Smith?—more education and training that is relevant to the needs of the workplace and a system that's more open to innovation. That's what the proposals are designed to achieve.SPEAKER: Can I just remind Ministers that when they are answering they should not be inviting the Opposition to answer them even on a yes/no as to whether or not they'd like another question. And as a lesson for it I will give Dr Smith the opportunity to ask one supplementary now that doesn't count.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Will the Minister give my community of Nelson an absolute reassurance that the $20 million that it has in reserves will not be used to bail out institutions that have failed in other parts of the country and that there will be no reduction in staff or courses in my Nelson community?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the latter part of the question: no I cannot give that guarantee because that is what's likely to happen at the moment under the status quo. Institutes of technology and polytechs throughout the country for the last decade have been progressively cutting courses in the regions and that is something that this Government is not willing to see continue.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister did not address—SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat. He very clearly addressed one of the legs of the question—the member knows it. And I want to warn that member: as the father of the House he should know the rules. He does know the rules and if he breaches them again in that way in a deliberate manner he will be leaving the Chamber.Hon Simon Bridges: That makes you the granddaddy.SPEAKER: Thank you very much Mr Bridges. I don't regard that as an insult but it's probably not a comment that he should make from his chair."