Alexander Marc: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Alexander Marc: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:627;Page:21841] 
12.  
MARC ALEXANDER (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he have confidence in the PILLARS family programme for prisoner reintegration following release; if so why? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: There was an interjection during that question. We all know the rules. It is the last question. 
Rodney Hide 
: It was in response to Annette King calling out so I think she should be asked to leave too. 
Hon Annette King 
: In fact there were three. There was also Heather Roy. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Soon there will be nobody left but we are on the last question. I would ask all those members who interjected on Marc Alexander to please leave. 
Hon Annette King withdrew from the Chamber. 
Rodney Hide withdrew from the Chamber. 
Heather Roy withdrew from the Chamber. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 I am waiting for the results of an outcomes evaluation of the PILLARS programme that will be with me at the end of the month. I will then be in a position to form a view on the effectiveness of that programme. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister confirm that the 2003 draft final evaluation report of PILLARS accused the service of frequent caseworker turnover of failures by caseworkers to meet scheduled appointments of failures to identify drug and alcohol abuse family violence and child abuse and of bad pre-release planning; if so why has that organisation been funded for a further 2 years before another evaluation was forthcoming? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I cannot confirm that part. I can confirm that as part of that the programme was said to have well-developed infrastructure and systems and effective trained caseworker teams. I will however acknowledge and concede to the member that the evaluation system has not been good. I am expecting the evaluation to be with me at the end of this month. At that point there are two issues to be raised. One is whether the funding will be continued; if it is to be continued then there will certainly be a tender process. 
Martin Gallagher 
: How has the Government demonstrated its commitment to prisoner reintegration? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In the Budget this year the Government provided an extra $4.9 million for reintegration services for inmates over 4 years. That includes an additional 10 reintegration coordinators in 2005-06 who will play a key role in ensuring that inmates who have served their time are able to find work housing and health services among other things. In addition we are providing better industry training for inmates prior to their release. The Ministry of Social Development is working with the Department of Corrections on a range of initiatives designed to improve the reintegration of inmates upon release. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister confirm that when I questioned him in the select committee about why we are still waiting for the final evaluation of PILLARS which was due in April last year he said: “We’re not hiding anything but frankly the evaluation hasn’t been all that flash.”; if so does he not think the public has a right to see how his Government has wasted their money or should they hold their breath for a creative re-edit? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I certainly stand by my comment that I do not think the evaluation system was all that flash. The reality is though of course that there is an alternative competitor in Christchurch as the member knows. I hear from some members in this House that PILLARS is not very good. I hear from other members in this House that it is a very very good programme. Hopefully the evaluation system will break through and give an objective assessment of those things. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister confirm that his department has committed to providing an evaluation of outcomes from reintegrative support services by the end of this month; if so will he commit to continuing support for the concept of reintegrative services even if individual agencies have failed to perform by re-tendering for these programmes; if not why not? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I thought I had answered that but just to reinforce it: the first thing we will need to do is sort out whether the funding will continue—across the whole programme. If it is to continue it will definitely be tendered.