Shaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 04 November 2015. Volume:709;Page:7687. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government’s policies?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister)on behalf of thePrime Minister: Yes.James Shaw: Is it his Government’s policy to increase the number of unemployed people in New Zealand and at the same time decrease the number of jobs?Hon BILL ENGLISH: No.James Shaw: Is it acceptable to him and his Government that the number of unemployed people in New Zealand has increased by 11000 this quarter or more than the entire population of Gore?Hon BILL ENGLISH: It is not a surprise that the employment market is a bit softer because in the first half of this year national income dropped by billions of dollars when the dairy prices dropped and also the Christchurch rebuild has flattened out. That has led to an economy that is softer than people expected. That has been showing up in all the other economic numbers and now it is showing up in the employment numbers. However we are confident that the economy is on track for 2 to 3 percent growth over the next 12 to 18 months.James Shaw: Given that this is the fourth quarter in a row where unemployment has risen would he say that his Government is as his party’s website says “Helping families get ahead”?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I certainly stand by the statement that the Government is helping families get ahead illustrated by the fact that the quarterly figures show another real increase in wages which I think is 4 or 5 years of progressive real increase in incomes of course of those who have jobs. Of course we are concerned about those who do not and the best that we can do about those who do not have jobs is do what we can to encourage businesses to invest the next dollar and create the next job and that is what we do through the Business Growth Agenda.James Shaw: Does he think that his Government is working for all New Zealanders when Māori and Pacific people’s rates of unemployment are both more than double the overall unemployment rate?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Yes and in fact within Government we are working very hard to overcome decades of low performance by the Government—for instance in an education system that does not succeed in leaning against socio-economic disadvantage. It is disappointing that Opposition parties have opposed a lot of the measures the Government has taken to overcome that critical disadvantage among Māori and Pasifika young people.James Shaw: Given that regional unemployment is getting worse does he now anticipate that more unemployed people will be showing up at his backbenchers’ Provincial Priorities tour?Hon BILL ENGLISH: They are most welcome because what they would hear on that tour is discussion about how to build on the strengths of some regions—only some regions—where unemployment is a bit higher and how to encourage businesses in those regions to invest another dollar and employ another person. Certainly policies such as banning fossil fuels and creating a very expensive emissions trading system and getting rid of dairy cows which are Green policies are not likely to create jobs.James Shaw: What was the unemployment rate when you took office in 2008?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I cannot recall the figure—it was pretty low. But it is a shame that the Greens have drunk the same Kool-Aid as the Labour Party and forgotten there was a global financial crisis and a significant recession and a world economy that is struggling to grow. If the Greens want to go back—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was answered immediately.