9. Question No. 9—Social DevelopmentMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 9—Social DevelopmentMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): Fakafetai lahi lele.SPEAKER: Order! Order! It is getting pretty serious that the member Nikki Kaye is a repeat offender within about a minute of her previous offence. She's sort of tempting me pretty severely to do what I'm trying very hard not to do and that is to toss members out. She will withdraw and apologise again but I tell her she's on a warning for the rest of the week.Hon Nikki Kaye: I withdraw and apologise.9. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social Development: Is she concerned that the over 340000 hardship grants provided by MSD in the September 2018 quarter indicate baseline benefits are insufficient to meet housing and food costs?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Yes I'm concerned and I'm also relieved that we have a more responsible Ministry of Social Development (MSD) culture that means those requiring help are getting it. I think it's very important to note that the evidence available to us clearly identifies the cost of housing as the key reason why so many New Zealanders require access to hardship grants. Thankfully unlike the previous Government this Government is making housing a priority.Marama Davidson: Does she think that the significant increase in hardship grants almost doubling over the past five years demonstrates beneficiaries are falling further and further behind?SPEAKER: Order! Grant. Grant Robertson—please be quiet.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As previously noted it's really important that we emphasise the fact that all of the evidence supports the fact that hardship grants have been increasing over the last five years due to the increase in the cost of housing. With regards to income adequacy it's also important to note that this Government has committed to undertaking a welfare overhaul and as part of that we have appointed an expert advisory group for welfare. Part of the terms of reference is to look seriously at income adequacy. Marama Davidson: Should baseline benefits be enough to ensure everyone has decent housing and enough food for their families?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I have said income adequacy is something that is being looked at as part of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's work. Although we are seriously looking at income adequacy and look forward to the recommendations and report back from the expert advisory group we cannot ignore that something needs to be done about housing. I'm very glad to be part of a Government that has made housing a priority because the very families that the MP is asking about are reliant on us making sure that we make housing affordable.Marama Davidson: Does she agree we have a responsibility to ensure everyone in our country has a decent standard of living and that the number of people needing food grants or borrowing to cover the basics shows that we're not living up to this responsibility?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I'm highly concerned that there has been a trend upwards for the last five years of New Zealanders having to access hardship grants. I'm committed as the Minister and our Government is committed to making sure that we have a fairer more accessible welfare system. I'm looking forward to the report that we will receive from the expert advisory group in February and I'm looking forward to the positive changes that I know that this Government is capable of making.