Bennett Paula: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bennett Paula: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:644;Page:14023] 
9.  
PAULA BENNETT (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: How many early childhood education centres have opened this year? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I am advised that 132 early childhood centres have been licensed this year. 
Paula Bennett 
: Why did the Prime Minister officially open the Jump and Jive centre in Manukau in March this year in a flourish of staged publicity only to have it still closed today because of air pollution concerns that cannot be substantiated? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Our Prime Minister is a very regular visitor to early childhood centres and schools. This year for example the Prime Minister has visited over 40 schools or early childhood centres including opening Whangamata’s free kindy in June Mount Albert kindy’s new playground centre in September and the Cambridge early learning centre in November. We are very fortunate to have a Prime Minister who is so interested in education. 
Paula Bennett 
: What are the regulations around air pollution standards for early childhood centres and why is Jump and Jive not open when it has had an independent report done that states that it is all clear? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: All early childhood centres are required to have a health clearance. The Jump and Jive childcare centre which the member refers to has undergone that. There were concerns about air quality. The location of that particular centre on an intersection has raised those concerns but I am pleased to tell the member that the ministry will be meeting with that centre tomorrow to discuss a health report that has just been done. 
Dianne Yates 
: What support is the Labour-led Government making available this year to increase access to early childhood education? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: We are doing a great deal. We are providing $16 million this year to build new and expanded community-based early childhood services. We have so far this year allocated $9.6 million to create an additional 385 places. In the next few weeks I will be announcing further grants across the country for more spaces in our very active programme of creating early childhood education for Kiwi kids. And of course we have our very popular and effective 20 free hours policy which all 3 and 4-year-olds in New Zealand can access. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Can the Minister tell the House what effects upon the early childhood participation rates of 3 and 4-year-olds the implementation of the 20 free hours policy has had at this point in time? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I am delighted to do so. Over 77000 children and their families are accessing the 20 free hours—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It is impossible to hear. I will have to ask for the answer to heard in silence. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: All kindergartens are now offering this service. Forty-five kohanga reo have now opted into the free early childhood education scheme as well. Eighty-three percent of all 3 and 4-year olds enrolled in early childhood education are accessing the 20 free hours. This is a great policy benefiting thousands of Kiwi families. Of course the member who asked me a question earlier Paula Bennett said on Radio New Zealand National on 24 June that the National Party would get rid of the 20 free hours policy. 
Paula Bennett 
: Did the Prime Minister insist that she would open the Jump and Jive childcare centre on 16 March only if stunt children were bussed in for her photo opportunity? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: That is from the member who would abolish the 20 free hours policy! I remind the House again that our very busy Prime Minister has visited over 40 early childhood centres and schools this year. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The entire ACT caucus is sitting here quietly and we would just love to hear the answer to that question. We could not hear a thing and we want to know about the stunt children. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No I am sorry. I could hear the answer that time. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Rodney Hide 
: Point of order— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please be seated Mr Hide. The member who is about to ask a question unfortunately has an extraordinarily loud voice which does make it very difficult on occasions for others to hear. If members would please get themselves under control I would ask Paula Bennett to ask the question please. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. With the greatest respect the test is not whether you can hear the answer— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Well it is partially Mr Hide. Please sit down. Would the Minister please in summary address the question. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The only stunt being pulled is the silly question from the member. The Prime Minister was responding to a request from a private early childhood provider to open its centre. All arrangements to do with that were made by the owners of the early childhood centre. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think it is not unreasonable that the Minister does answer this question and he is avoiding it. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I am sorry Mr Brownlee but I think that on this occasion he did actually address the question. He did address the question.  
Gerry Brownlee 
: With all due respect Madam Speaker this childcare centre is not open because the ministry will not allow it to be. So the question relates to what happened on the day it was opened by the Prime Minister. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I am sorry Mr Brownlee. Please be seated. Members are not always satisfied with the answers given by Ministers. The Standing Orders do not require them to be so. On this occasion the Minister did actually address the question. It may not have been to the satisfaction of the member or it may not have been the answer the member wanted but the Minister did address it. 
Paula Bennett 
: Can he confirm that the Government used Jump and Jive childcare centre as a photo opportunity for its leader even busing in stunt kids to try to make the photos look good but will do nothing to help the centre which has been closed for 9 months despite having met all the regulations? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: No I cannot. 
Paula Bennett 
: I seek leave to table a photo of those stunt children on the opening day. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I seek leave to table a transcript from Radio New Zealand National on 24 June 2007 which states that the National Party’s early childhood spokesperson Paula Bennett— 
Document not tabled.