11. Question No. 11—PoliceCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—Police11. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by all his statements policies and actions in relation to the New Zealand Police?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Minister of Police: Yes. Chris Bishop: Can he confirm the total new number of front-line police added to the force since 1 November 2017 taking into account attrition is only 496 full-time equivalents and with just 18 months to go until the next election how is he going to reach his target of 1800 new police in three years? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Minister what I can confirm is that the police have the lowest attrition virtually of any Civil Service—at now 5 percent—so keen are the men and women to stay on now that they've got a supportive Government. What I can also say is that over 830 have already been trained or are being trained in just 12 months and this week on Thursday—good news—80 will graduate out at Porirua College and just today a further 80 have been taken on. Chris Bishop: If the Government has only managed to recruit 496—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Questions start with a question word. Chris Bishop: Sorry Mr Speaker. How can he claim the Government will meet its target of 1800 new police in three years given the Government has only managed to recruit 496 net new police since November 2017? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Minister of Police those graduating for the years 2019 and 2020 will be over 830 just in that period of time. That's more than in any two-year combined period in any previous administration—in other words we are delivering twice as many police. Chris Bishop: Does he accept that official advice to him in 2018 was that he required funding of $515 million over four years to deliver the 1800 new police and that Budget 2018 only appropriated $299 million and can the police expect a further injection of the balance in Budget 2019—namely $216 million?Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Minister I always get worried when I hear people quoting figures particularly when they're not qualified to. Can I say in particular here are the real facts: we have deployed more than 1200 new constables since we've been in office. That's 1200 and if you look at the election cycle we just might make the 1800 before the three years is out. Chris Bishop: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect my question was about funding and about various Budget documents that are in the public domain. That answer was about new police delivered but the question was actually about the funding. SPEAKER: Yes and I think right at the beginning although not in a very satisfactory way that was addressed. Chris Bishop: Does he stand by his statement of 12 June 2018 that in relation to the Minister of Finance He has also assured me if I go back next year he will top me up" and if he doesn't get the required $219 million top-up how will he explain to the Police Association that he hasn't delivered on his commitments? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: On behalf of the Minister it's well-known—it's in the Bible in fact—that he who sets his hands to the plough and looks backwards is not fit for the kingdom of heaven. In short he's going to see the Minister of Finance determined to succeed."