Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:631;Page:2827] 
9.  
GEORGINA BEYER (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What reports has he received on the Government’s progress on moving New Zealanders off benefits and into work? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The latest quarterly benefit statistics show that in the year ended March 2006 the number of working-age New Zealanders on benefits dropped by a further 8374 or 2.9 percent. That is a drop of around 118000 or nearly 30 percent fewer New Zealanders receiving a benefit since this Government came into office. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What reports has the Minister seen about the level of understanding of these changes in respect of the headline or net benefit numbers? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I have seen a report of a person giving a thoroughly inaccurate account to a conference in Auckland when despite the headline benefit numbers showing that there are almost 118000 or one-third fewer beneficiaries under Labour than previously that person claimed nothing had changed. That person was of course National’s welfare spokesperson Judith Collins. She clearly also had not wanted to remember that in the 1990s the number of people receiving the sickness benefit and the invalids benefit grew at a rate of 69 and 84 percent respectively. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What reports has he seen specifically about the numbers of people receiving the unemployment benefit? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: The rate of unemployment has dropped by more than 72 percent under Labour. In 1999 there were 161000 New Zealanders in receipt of the unemployment benefit. The latest quarterly figures show that that figure is now just over 44500. The last time unemployment was as low as that was in the mid-1980s. Consequently over 56500 fewer children are living in benefit-dependent households since Labour came to office which is a reduction of 20 percent. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Kua wanangahia e te Kawana te wariu o ana kaupapa whakaiti matua i runga i nga mahi uruhina kia haere nga matua kei runga penihana ki te mahi mo te moni; mena kahore he aha ai? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Has the Government assessed the long-term impact of its policy to devalue the vital role of parenting by forcing beneficiary parents into paid work; if not why not? 
] 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: There is no forcing of anyone into work under this Government. But I would comment in terms of Maori unemployment that the number receiving a benefit dropped from around 44500 in 1999 to 15800 in the year ended March 2006. That is a drop of 28546 or 64 percent and it is rather a good indication of and testimony to the focus of this Government on work for all New Zealanders. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: What is the Government’s view of the establishment of a 24-hour hotel for children of working parents; does that type of facility form part of the Government’s vision for our society and is that the logical outcome of its policy of forcing beneficiary parents into paid work? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I have no ministerial responsibility for that private initiative. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave of the House to table my truly excellent speech to the conference of the northern region of the National Party a week ago so that all members of the House can have the benefit of a speech on welfare which is something we are still waiting for that Minister to give. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.