Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 08 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6295. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Why did he say “Plan A is a good plan” given the state of regional economies?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Acting Prime Minister): He said “Plan A is a good plan” because plan A is a good plan. It enables regions to be resilient to shifts in global prices. The Government is supporting regions in a number of ways including water reform and Resource Management Act reform recognising that most regional economies are resource-based economies and we are investing in regions through better alignment in training and skills education and research and development. Some regions are under pressure from the volatility in dairy prices. The Government is working with those regions—for example through regional growth studies—to attract more investment jobs and growth.Andrew Little: Is plan A working for Taranaki which is in recession according to the ANZ Regional Trends report with the economy there shrinking by 3 percent so far this year?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Taranaki does have the highest GDP per head in the country because of long-running success on the back of its oil and gas industry and the dairy industry. It happens that right now the prices for both are low but unlike that member we maintain confidence in the people of Taranaki that they will be able to deal with these lower prices and continue to succeed.Andrew Little: Given the number of jobs in Taranaki fell by 700 in the past year and the number of people who are unemployed shot up by 44 percent is it not time to admit that plan A for the economy is failing?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The unemployment was particularly low in Taranaki because of its economic success. There are other industries there that are succeeding or being cushioned by the reduction in the exchange rate. One job of course that was not filled in Taranaki was by that member when he took a second thrashing in the New Plymouth seat.Andrew Little: Why did his Government undermine the Taranaki economy by slashing transport funding for the region by a third between 2008 and 2014?Hon BILL ENGLISH: We do not agree with the member’s characterisation of road funding given the size and number of projects going on in Taranaki and I might say the most recent injection of capital was the settlement signed on the weekend which is going to be worth $17 million to Taranaki and it will be supervised by iwi who have a long-running interest in the strength of the Taranaki economy.Andrew Little: Point of order—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order and it will be heard in silence.Andrew Little: I seek leave to table a chart showing the cut in funding for Taranaki roading showing a cut to the tune of—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I need the source of the document.Andrew Little: The source is from the New Zealand Transport Agency and not otherwise publicly available.Mr SPEAKER: OK I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular chart from the New Zealand Transport Agency and it is not available on the website I am assured. Is there any objection to that being tabled? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Andrew Little: Has he seen the Economic Survey of Manufacturing released today which shows manufacturing sales are falling and how will that affect regional economies?Hon BILL ENGLISH: We would expect that because of the low dairy prices in particular being quite low there are going to be flow-on effects through some parts of the economy. In respect of manufacturing it will be affected by the state of the dairy industry because some manufacturing is related to it. On the other hand there are other manufacturers who are doing very well because of the low exchange rate. Those who are under pressure have the full support of the Government with a regulatory and taxation regime that provides them with incentives to adapt to those circumstances and we have longer-term confidence in their ability to do so.Andrew Little: Given plan A is a failure that has led to higher unemployment weak growth and record debt why is he refusing to consider a new direction?Hon BILL ENGLISH: We do not agree with the member’s description of the future of the New Zealand economy. I know he is among the very few people who want to see the economy crash because he thinks it might benefit his poor leadership and party standing. But actually we have a longer-term view that although this is a softer patch for the economy and a difficult period for some industries we have longer-term confidence in the New Zealand economy.Andrew Little: Given that plan A has failed will he update National’s 2014 slogan to now read “Not working for New Zealand”?Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was not heard because of the level of interjection mainly from my right—[Interruption] Order! I invite the member to repeat the question.Andrew Little: The question is and was: given that plan A has failed will he update National’s 2014 slogan to now read “Not working for New Zealand”?Hon BILL ENGLISH: No because plan A is working for New Zealand much better than Labour’s political strategy is working for Labour.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I require the House to settle.