7. Schools Special—Salisbury School ClosureCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka): to the Minister of EducationSchools Special—Salisbury School Closure7. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka): to the Minister of Education: Does she have confidence that all schools are receiving the funding necessary to serve the diverse needs and abilities of students?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Tēnā anō e Te Mana Whakawā huri noa i tō tātou Whare ngā mihi nui.[Thank you once again Mr Speaker and huge acknowledgments to us throughout our House.]I am confident that this year for the first time we are spending over $11 billion in education. However we can always do better and that is why the funding review advisory group is considering proposals to ensure funding is going to the right student at the right time so that all our young people get the best chance of being educationally successful.Chris Hipkins: Why is she proposing to close the special residential school Salisbury School given her last attempt to do so was overturned by the courts with Justice Dobson concluding that it was common sense the risk of sexual abuse for girls with impaired intellect was likely to increase that No great leap of logic [was] required to recognise the validity of concerns" and that her arguments amounted to "an abrogation of the responsibilities involved in making a decision"?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Just as the member is concerned to ensure that we are confident that all schools are receiving the funding they should we are also equally concerned to ensure that the best value is attached to that. In the case of Salisbury School for which the process of consultation is open what we know is that the nine students at that school are costing us on average $214000 per student compared with the intensive wraparound service which is costing us $27000 per student. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Tracey Martin we just need a little less interjection.Chris Hipkins: If lack of enrolments is her justification for closure why is she making it so hard for students to get in with one family making five attempts over 2 years to enrol their intellectually disabled daughter who was finally accepted into the school the day that the Minister announced her intention to try once again to close it?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Lack of enrolments is not the reason that I am in discussion about Salisbury School. It is part of it but in fact there has been a lack of enrolments over four successive years but it is also—[Interruption]—about the cost. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Tracey Martin.Hon HEKIA PARATA: If I could speak to the particular circumstance the member is raising: that family was trying to get into the intensive wraparound service that then gives the opportunity to consider a residential option; having been accepted into the intensive wraparound service we then facilitated the enrolment at Salisbury School—that is the process.Tracey Martin: What a lie.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member has just said "What a lie." as part of her ongoing barrage. It is not a lie.Mr SPEAKER: To Tracey Martin if she is going to continue to interject like that she will create disorder. I require her to stand and withdraw that remark.Tracey Martin: No Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Then the member will leave the Chamber. [Interruption] Order! Just leave the Chamber.Tracey Martin withdrew from the Chamber. Chris Hipkins: Did she indicate in her answer to my first supplementary question that the cost of educating kids at Salisbury School was one of the reasons for considering closing it; if so is the cost per student related to the number of enrolments?Hon HEKIA PARATA: The way that Salisbury School has been funded has been on a nominal roll not an actual one. The nominal roll has far exceeded the actual roll in each of the last 4 years. That funding therefore when it is averaged against the number of actual students is significantly high. That is one of the reasons. As the member himself has indicated consistently his concern is that education resources are getting to those who need it most. We also have to make sure that we do have that available for the intensive wraparound service which is proving very successful for families.Chris Hipkins: If the cost per student is one of the reasons as she has indicated for her considering closing Salisbury School why have so many parents who have asked to have their children sent to Salisbury School been declined that opportunity?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I would have to verify the assertion the member is making but perhaps I could enlighten him and the House as to the process. When the application is made it is considered by the appropriate clinical and educational experts by the family involved by the school and by the Ministry of Education. They then form a panel to make decisions and as a result of that either a young person is accepted into the process or they are not.Hon Member: That's rubbish. You changed the criteria.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. We have got another member of the Opposition basically calling me dishonest—[Interruption] I am happy to run a workshop.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Hon Hekia Parata will immediately resume her seat.Hon HEKIA PARATA: Sorry Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: It is an interjection that is not helpful but it is hardly unparliamentary."