Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:627;Page:21914] 
12.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Is he satisfied with the performance of the Jobs Jolt initiative Activating Very Long Term Unemployed; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Yes. 
Judith Collins 
: Can the Minister confirm that the review of the 2004 performance of his Activating Very Long Term Unemployed stated that the impact of this initiative—in terms of getting people into work—was “considered zero”; if so what does his persistence with failing Jobs Jolt initiatives say about his claim that his ministry makes policy changes only on the basis of “evidence-based research”? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The latest Jobs Jolt quarterly report shows that the outcomes for this initiative continue to be significantly ahead of forecast and have had an impact; and because the number of very long-term unemployed have declined by 21 percent since we started this programme I have now broadened its eligibility to include clients who have been on a benefit for 5 to 8 years rather than the original target group of over 8 years. 
Judy Turner 
: Is he satisfied with the performance of another Jobs Jolt initiative the ProCare pilot designed to assist beneficiaries in Manukau with stress and depression when only 52 have participated out of the original target of 120 despite the fact that these conditions alone account for 1327 sickness and invalids beneficiaries in that area and that despite a forecasted success rate of 24 percent only 13 percent have gone off the benefit and half have left the programme without going off the benefit? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I actually am very pleased with the emerging results from the Providing Access to Health Solutions ProCare and Workwise programmes that have been piloted in the Manukau and Wellington regions. I have congratulated both the Ministry of Social Development and the two district health boards on the way they have run this pilot. The concept has proven itself to the extent that now we have extended it to the Western Bay of Plenty and I am looking forward to rolling it out across the country in the coming year. 
Judith Collins 
: Can he confirm that New Zealand taxpayers spent $761000 on the Activating Very Long Term Unemployed initiative in the 2004 year for “zero effect” and what does he have to say to the long-term unemployed people to whom he has provided a quarter of a million dollar programme that is nothing more than a public relations stunt? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: No and the figures for long-term unemployment run like this: 2 years - plus since 1999 34 percent reduction; 2 years - plus over the past 5 years 61 percent reduction; 8 years - plus since we introduced that programme 21 percent reduction; 10 years - plus since we came into power in 1999 63 percent reduction; 10 years - plus over the last year 35 percent reduction. My advice to the long-term unemployed is: “Stick with Labour.” 
Judith Collins 
: In that case has he seen Treasury concerns about Jobs Jolt that: “Treasury believes that strong economic and employment growth has masked the relatively insignificant impact of the initiatives.” and is he satisfied that the only appearance of success in the Jobs Jolt package is in fact the result of hard-working New Zealanders creating more jobs so that someone else can pay taxes? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I have seen a report that shows that the Jobs Jolt initiative to date has in excess of 7000 people directly from the job. It is a 3-year programme. It is well on the way towards its 22000 target. It would help if the member became literate and actually read the reports properly.