2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterNICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Acting Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. NICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Acting Prime Minister): Yes particularly the Government's support for New Zealanders during the current volatile and uncertain environment. We're boosting the incomes of seniors students and low-income families while a million New Zealanders are receiving the winter energy payment. Over 1.3 million New Zealanders have received the first cost of living payments this week to support New Zealanders with the increased costs they are facing. This builds on our cut to fuel excise duty and half-price public transport until January 2023. New Zealand is in a strong position to support households and businesses. Unemployment is low exports are growing and Government debt is substantially below most other nations. There is no single or easy solution but we will continue to provide support to New Zealanders in these challenging times.Nicola Willis: Why did the Government claim 2.1 million people would receive the cost of living payment when only 1.3 million have reportedly received it—a large number of whom live overseas?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: That's because yesterday was day one of the scheme.Nicola Willis: How much taxpayer money has the Government used to make cost of living payments to people living overseas?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: We're not quite sure. The fact of the matter is—Hon Members: Ha ha! Hon KELVIN DAVIS: —at this stage—there are 33 New Zealanders over there who don't like the cost of living payments; there are 1.3 million New Zealanders yesterday who received that and they're saying thank you very much to a very considerate and caring Government. Brooke van Velden: Is it correct that Before each monthly payment Inland Revenue will check each individual's eligibility for the payment." in regards to the cost of living payment and if so can he guarantee that the IRD will prevent people who are ineligible from receiving the second and third monthly payments?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: The short answer is yes and I see that the Minister of Revenue has a question at question No. 4. The detailed questions I guess should really go to him.Nicola Willis: How many people who've spent time in New Zealand on working holiday visas but have since returned home—such as French backpacker Benoit Berton—have received the cost of living payment?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: We're still gathering data—I mean like I said this is day two of this scheme. Of course nothing is perfect—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. I'll refer the member to Speakers' ruling 183/3. Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: No no the member will—a further supplementary. Nicola Willis: How many people such as Charlotte Castle who left New Zealand more than six years ago have received the cost of living payment?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: When people shift or change address they normally go to the post office. They let the post office know that they've changed it so that the mail can go somewhere else. What we've learnt is that when people travel overseas to live overseas we actually now need to inform Inland Revenue that they've also moved overseas. It is a very simple process for them to actually go online and to inform Inland Revenue that they don't believe they're eligible and I recommend and suggest that people do just that.Nicola Willis: Whose fault is it that New Zealand taxpayer money has ended up in the bank accounts of people living overseas: the Government for such a poorly designed scheme or New Zealanders who didn't change their address with the IRD?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I see that the cost of living payment has triggered the member's hyperbole reflex. If we take all her hyperbole and we halve it and halve it again she'll still be about a mile away from where reality is. Nicola Willis: Wouldn't it have been fairer to taxpayers to simply adjust their income tax rates for the cost of living so they can keep more of what they earn rather than overtaxing them hiring hundreds of bureaucrats and then sending millions to London "yo pros" and French backpackers?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: We have a cost of living crisis and the Opposition's solution was to give $2 a week to the people who need it the most while they give themselves tens of thousands of dollars in tax relief. The other thing that I've also found out about the National Party policy is—SPEAKER: Order! Order! That's something I think is unlikely the member will ever have responsibility for.Nicola Willis: Does he agree with Jacinda Ardern who said in 2017 that "Kids living in cars & motels is not a sign of care" and can he confirm how many kids are living in cars and motels today?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: In regards to the first part of the question yes. Nicola Willis: Is the Acting Prime Minister concerned to learn that 486 families are living in cars according to latest data—four times the number when Labour gained office—and when will the Government stop blaming National for Labour's multiple failures to deliver?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: One of the things is that we inherited a problem. There were so many people living in cars under the previous Government that we have had to solve the problem. We have delivered over 10000 public homes which is the most building that any Government has done since the 1970s. We're well aware of the situation and we're taking steps to address it. SPEAKER: Question No. 5 Ginny Andersen.Ginny Andersen: My question is to the Minister of Police and it reads: what recent progress has been made—Hon Member: Point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Oh sorry I apologise. I apologise to the member—it just feels like it's taken a long time to get here. I missed question No. 3—Chris Bishop: We're happy to give it a miss. SPEAKER: Are members happy to give a question away?Chris Bishop: No no.SPEAKER: No—oh someone else's question? The member knows he can't do that but he can give his own questions away and he's running the risk of doing it."