Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:616;Page:12376] 
8.  
GEORGINA BEYER (Labour—Wairarapa) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What initiatives has the Government implemented to encourage young people into training and paid employment? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
:  
The Government has a number of initiatives to get and keep young people in work. These include working with the Mayors Task Force for Jobs developing training and employment partnerships with industry placing young people in industry internships the Modern Apprenticeshipsscheme skills training courses specifically for young people and general support in the workplace. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What has been the result of those programmes in terms of reducing youth unemployment? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: In March 1999 there were 46140 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 on the unemployment benefit—about a third of the total recipients. As at March 2004 that number had been reduced to 22949 which is a reduction of almost 50 percent in the number of young people on the benefit. Those are good results but the Government expects better for our young New Zealanders so Work and Income is working to intensify its focus on reducing youth unemployment even further. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister aware of reports of young people entering into multiple training schemes with no realistic likelihood of paid employment at the end; if so what initiatives is he aware of to end this very new cycle of dependency? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Far from there being a new cycle of dependency this Government has reduced youth unemployment by a staggering 50 percent. This Government has focused entirely upon training and programmes that lead to employment such as rebuilding the Modern Apprenticeships system which the National Government scrapped 10 years ago. 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question to the Minister was whether he was aware of reports of young people entering into multiple training schemes with no realistic likelihood of paid employment. Members got a diatribe about the Labour Government and I do not think he addressed the question. I would like him to address the question please. 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: No I am not aware of those programmes. What I am aware of is just good programmes getting young people into work and the results show. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that many young people are employed casually with little or no commitment from their employers and will the Minister tell the House whether he is happy with this type of arrangement? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Of course the Government would prefer young people to be employed in full-time positions with secure employment. That is why the Government has committed a substantial sum of money and substantial effort into securing for example the Modern Apprenticeships system. We are engaged with industry the retail sector and so on simply to gain full-time secure employment good wages and good skills for our young people. This Government will not ignore them like the last Government did. 
Judy Turner 
: Why has the number of people under 25 on the sickness benefit increased by 32 percent since the year 2000 with young people on the invalids benefit climbing by 27 percent over the same period and what is this Government doing to ensure that people who should be embarking on careers are not embarking on a life of dependency instead? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: It is true that the number of people on the sickness benefit and the invalids benefit has gone up but it is also true that the total number of people on a benefit in New Zealand has dropped by some 45000. This Government is concerned to see that that improves even further and we have three key policies—case management innovative employment assistance and vocational service—to help those people get into employment.