2. Public Services—Productivity and Support for BusinessesBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of FinancePublic Services—Productivity and Support for Businesses2. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Finance: What steps is the Government taking to improve productivity in the public service?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): The public sector cost New Zealand around $74 billion last year. For this we received many products and services that help New Zealanders lead successful independent lives. But we do need to constantly work to increase the productivity of the Public Service and develop new and better ways of helping people. One of the key ways—and we are doing that in the upcoming Budget—is delivering better public services for our growing country accommodating demand pressures where they exist but also ensuring we get a measurable additional productivity benefit for any investment we make.Brett Hudson: What progress is the Government making to improve outcomes for New Zealanders who need Government services and support?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: As part of this programme to improve productivity Ministers yesterday reported on their Better Public Services results and the improvements they are making to the lives of New Zealanders. More young people are getting education and qualifications to help them get jobs. Fewer children are getting rheumatic fever or being physically abused. There is less crime in our communities and more people are getting into work and off benefits. There is more to do but these are real improvements that are making a real difference to real New Zealanders. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! As I have said on many occasions I do not mind some level of interjection but when it becomes as loud as it was towards the end of that question then I am left with no choice but to deal with it.Brett Hudson: Are all of the Government's Better Public Services targets on track?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Across the 10 results there are 11 targets. Seven of them are on track to be achieved in the time frame sought. The remaining four are still making progress but will need more work. These 11 targets are deliberately set to be challenging otherwise there would be no point in doing it. Although not every result has yet been achieved there has been significant progress for each target that we have set. In order to keep driving progress the Government will be considering new methods for tackling individual challenges and continuing to challenge the Public Service to think differently.Brett Hudson: How is improving Public Service productivity helping businesses be more efficient? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Better Public Services targets include a target to make it easier for business to interact with the Government. A good example of this work is the IRD's Business Transformation project. As of just a short time ago small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are now able to not only register for GST online but also prepare and amend their returns and pay their GST directly. SMEs can even pay their GST directly now off the back of their accounting software. All this is estimated to reduce the time that small and medium sized businesses spend on their GST returns by one-third. Already 4000 SMEs have reported the new system is saving them substantial time each month. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! It would be a great pity if the member was not here to ask his question later on.