Roy Heather: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Roy Heather: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:638;Page:8829] 
9. HEATHER ROY (Deputy Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does the Minister consider that the Free ECE Information line has been successful in informing parents about the 20 hours free scheme and how many calls have been taken to date? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Associate Minister of Education) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Education 
: Yes the Free ECE Information line—0800 204 433—has played a valuable role in informing parents about the 20 hours free scheme. The information line has received 3753 calls as at 29 April. 
Heather Roy 
: How can the Minister claim that the information line has been successful when the operators do not know which centres are opting into the scheme and which centres are not and why are operators telling parents to contact non – teacher – led centres such as playcentres when they are clearly ineligible to participate? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I am advised that in general the information line works effectively and has good systems in place. But we take any concerns about poor service very very seriously. Minister Maharey is looking into that matter right now. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: Apart from the helpline what else is being done to make parents aware of 20 hours’ free early childhood education? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Early childhood education centres themselves have an important role in getting information out to parents. They have been enthusiastic about doing that. 
Hon Member 
: Name one. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: The one in Gisborne. Centres have already ordered over 80000 booklets for parents’ information and over 200000 attestation forms for parents to fill in to claim their 20 free hours. 
Metiria 
Turei 
: How does the Minister justify giving 20 free hours to private centres which make a profit but excluding playcentres from the 20 free hours programme when it would cost the Government only about $50 per term per family and some administrative support to give them that same kind of programme and when playcentres have come out on top in the Competent Children study for long-term quality outcomes; and is the Minister not concerned that their exclusion from this policy could threaten their role in supporting New Zealand parents engaging in their children’s early childhood education? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: There are different aspects in relation to who gets funded and where and when. The bottom line is that 92000 children aged 3 and 4 will be eligible for this policy. 
Heather Roy 
: What has been the cost to date of setting up and running the freephone information line and does the Minister consider this to be value for taxpayer money when many parents cannot find a centre at which to enrol their 3 and 4-year-olds making them truly ineligible? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Approximately $35000 has been budgeted for running the information line. This is in line with other services of this type and given the number of calls to date well worth the cost. 
Paula Bennett 
: How does the Minister respond to parents who were promised by this Government that they would get 20 hours free and are now facing the reality that it is simply not going to be available and that they were lied to? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: Ninety-two thousand 3 and 4-year-olds will benefit from this—and this Government responds positively always to parents. We have done so consistently and that is why they like this Government. 
Heather Roy 
: Why is it that on the website 20hoursfree.blogspot.com the organisers of a petition to force Labour to keep its election promise on this issue have more information available on which centres are participating than the ministry’s own information line? 
Hon Member 
: That is debatable. 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: I doubt that very much—that is debatable. 
Metiria 
Turei 
: I seek leave to table an analysis by Michelle Rush Consulting Ltd that describes the impacts of playcentres’ exclusion from the 20 free hours’ early childhood education policy. 
Document not tabled. 
Paula Bennett 
: I seek leave to table a headline from today’s Christchurch  
Press 
 that states: “Learning centres baulk at free hours”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.