10. Question No. 10—Prime MinisterDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 10—Prime Minister10. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes in particular the Government's policy response to COVID-19 which supports our economic recovery while keeping New Zealanders safe. This includes our announcement this week to keep the business debt hibernation scheme open until 31 October 2021 our wage subsidy policy that supported around 1.7 million workers and 250000 businesses our small business cashflow scheme our policy to invest in apprenticeships and workplace training and delivering on our commitment to support workers with 10 days' sick leave through the increasing sick leave amendment bill. New Zealand's economy is recovering better than we expected with GDP and unemployment exceeding expectations but the impacts of this pandemic are far-reaching and we continue to work to support businesses employees and keep New Zealanders safe.David Seymour: Does she also stand by a policy of reviewing the Pharmac model with a view to changing its underlying legislation as she and all party leaders promised on the campaign trail?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes I stand by what I said on the campaign trail which was to provide a forum for us to look at the Pharmac model. I didn't give specifics beyond that but that was intended to make sure that we are getting the best value and of course the best medication we can for New Zealanders in a system that has served us well and must continue to have separation from politicians I think to continue to be effective. David Seymour: Why did the Speech from the Throne mention the word health" 13 times but "Pharmac" or "pharmaceuticals" never?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Look there will be a raft of things that are part of core Government business that may not have been mentioned in the Speech from the Throne but as I've just confirmed in my answer to the member's supplementary question I do intend to follow through on what I said prior to the election campaign. It's something that I've already spoken to officials about. David Seymour: What conversations has the Prime Minister had with those officials and did they give an indication of when the public might expect to see such a review completed?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: No at this stage I can't provide the member with a specific time line but I have said that we need to instigate that work and it needs to be part of our Government work programme.David Seymour: How can people who have been saying on the steps of Parliament "We can't wait." have confidence that a review of Pharmac is a priority for her Government having just watched her performance over the last few minutes?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: They will know that by the fact that we now have a Pharmac budget over a billion dollars and that is because of the consecutive increases that we made to the Pharmac budget in the last term. What was put to me during the course of the election campaign were ongoing questions around for instance the transparency of Pharmac's purchasing model and so on. I do want people to have confidence in a system that I believe by and large serves us very well. I believe looking into Pharmac in that regard should help bolster the confidence people can have but I will always stand very strongly on the principle of political separation from pharmaceutical purchases.David Seymour: Can the Prime Minister promise that there will be legislative change to the statutes underpinning Pharmac this term of Government?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I will not pre-empt a piece of work that I have pledged to undertake by making any assumptions about what it will find."