8. Question No. 8—HealthDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Minister of Health: When the Ministry of Health engaged with the board of the Laura Fergusson Trust did it offer any funding?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Associate Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Health: I have been advised by the Ministry of Health that they were informed on 1 November 2019 that the Laura Fergusson Trust was exiting its contracts with the Ministry of Health. Following this the ministry had two formal engagements with the trust in the two weeks following including a meeting with the trust board on 11 November 2019. Before the ministry was advised of the trust decisions there were no formal requests to discuss financial matters. After the trust made its decision all types of support including funding were on the table and were able to be discussed. The trust declined to engage further and informed the ministry that its decision to stop providing these services was final. David Seymour: When the Minister says that all options including funding were on the table were the trust board told that the ministry would consider additional funding in order to allow them to continue operating? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I have been advised that a discussion was had in which all types of support were offered and in fact a range of supports are offered to other providers—yes financial but also assistance with meeting quality assurance requirements or workforce development. However no discussion was able to be entered into because the trust informed the Ministry of Health that its decision was final.David Seymour: Is the Minister satisfied that those previously reliant on services from the Laura Fergusson Trust have been satisfactorily reaccommodated with replacement services?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: I am aware that this type of transition would be very difficult because the residents were asked to move from their home. However we have gone through a process to relocate every resident to accommodation and I am told that it is satisfactory. DAVID SEYMOUR: Why then does the Minister think that over 200 people many with disabilities came out to protest the closure and threatened sale of land from under the Laura Fergusson Trust Auckland this Sunday? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: As I mentioned I am aware that it must be very distressing to be asked to leave your home and that is why I understand so many people came to the protest. However that decision was precipitated by a refusal to engage with the ministry over an extension of the contract by the trust. David Seymour: Would the Minister or his officials be open to meeting with the board of the Laura Fergusson Trust to have further discussions about how the organisation might be made sustainable were the trust board willing to come back to the table? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: It has always been our position that we would like to have further discussions with the Laura Fergusson Trust; and yes we remain in that position—we'd be open to that discussion. SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the next question I want to make it clear to the person operating the camera in the gallery that he appears to be operating it in a way which breaches our Standing Orders. I know that we have an offshore group here who might not understand the New Zealand rules; to use that footage would be a breach of privilege and would result in the loss of accreditation.