7. Question No. 7—Social DevelopmentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 7—Social Development7. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by her statement if that member ever asks me a question again in this House about a thing called the dole—which does not exist—I will refuse to answer the question"? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Yes. What I have been attempting to convey is that her questions about a thing called the dole are unclear and ambiguous. [Interruption] The Ministry of—SPEAKER: Order! I just want to say there's an important point of principle—[Interruption] Sorry who interjected then? Brett Hudson: They coughed. SPEAKER: Oh OK. All right. There's a serious point of principle that both the questioner and the Minister are attempting to establish as a result of this question. I think it's important that we listen and it ill behoves people who shout down either the Minister or the questioner. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Shall I start again Mr Speaker? SPEAKER: Yes. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yes what I have been attempting to convey is that her questions about a thing called the dole are unclear and ambiguous. The Ministry of Social Development does not have any products or services referred to as the dole. There is also no reference to the word in social security legislation. I feel it's in the public interest that the correct terminology for Government support and assistance is used during question time and on that point some actual examples of main benefits in New Zealand include jobseeker support sole parent support supported living payment youth payment young parent payment and emergency benefit. Hon Louise Upston: Is she in denial about the fact that the Government has put an additional 27000 people on to the dole and in fact a larger percentage of people are coming back on to the dole within 13 weeks of leaving than under National? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There is no such thing as the dole in the social security legislation and there are no Ministry of Social Development products referred to as or called the dole. SPEAKER: Before the member asks the question I am going to assume that if the Minister is shouted down again National Party members do not want to have any further supplementaries. Hon Louise Upston: When will she advise the Prime Minister about her statement about the dole being unclear and ambiguous because that's how the Prime Minister has referred to it in this House? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I am referring to the use of terminology during question time. As the Minister for Social Development I think it is in the public interest that we use correct terminology when referring to services and support that the Ministry of Social Development provides. Hon Louise Upston: Why is she not willing to correct the Prime Minister on 21 May last year when she referred to people in Mana in Mahi who get the equivalent of the dole in this House and yet she refuses me as a member of the Opposition when holding her to account for the additional 27000 people who are on the dole? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As the Minister for Social Development I think it's important that we use the correct terminology when referring to the supports and assistance that are available through the Ministry of Social Development. I think as the Minister for Social Development it is important during question time—a very formal part of the process here in Parliament—that we do use the correct terminology and that it is in the best interests of the public to do so. Hon Louise Upston: When will she correct the Prime Minister who continues to use it including on Facebook posts? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I keep referring to question time as the process where I think it's important to use the correct terminology with respect to Ministry of Social Development supports and assistance and I stand by that statement. Hon Louise Upston: Does she believe people are better off having the opportunity to earn their own income through work or is she happy for them to live hand to mouth on the dole? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There is no such type of assistance referred to in the social security legislation or by the Ministry of Social Development called the dole. If the member would like to put questions down that refer to actual types of benefits that are paid through the Ministry of Social Development then I would be more than happy to respond to those specific questions."