3. Prime Minister—Police Resourcing Homeownership Education and Government DebtANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Police Resourcing Homeownership Education and Government Debt3. ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Which of these facts if any is he most proud of as he looks forward to Christmas: understaffed Police as confirmed by his police Minister; the lowest homeownership since 1951; pupils getting the worst PISA test scores ever; or the most debt ever amassed by a New Zealand Government?Mr SPEAKER: Before I call the Prime Minister my office has been advised that the answer may be a little longer than normal.Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Prime Minister): In the first case they are not facts. But secondly the member should cheer up. The country is pleased that it has been able to get a new Prime Minister with a stable Government that wants to pay off debt lift education standards support the police reduce crime and build on its major achievements from last year. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! School will be out shortly. In the meantime we need to complete question time.Andrew Little: How much of a merry Christmas will young Aucklanders have after being shut out of the Kiwi Dream of homeownership because now the average home costs more than a million dollars?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I am sure there are some who will go into Christmas disappointed that they have not been able to buy the house they wanted for a million dollars but actually a significant number of young New Zealanders have bought houses in Auckland because they have had the lowest interest rates in 50 years because they have had good jobs with rising incomes and they have been able to get into the housing market. Those who have not can see that the Government's building programme is getting under way and the policy changes that have led to the enabling of a lot more houses in Auckland will give them the opportunity in the future.Andrew Little: Is it a merry Christmas for the 90000 children in severe poverty under his Government?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I can tell the member that it is a much better Christmas this year for the 100000 of New Zealand's lowest income - earning households that on 1 April got a $25 a week increase the first such increase in 40 years and an increase that the Labour Government did not put in place even though it had large surpluses.Andrew Little: With so many Kiwis missing out after 8 years of National is it not true that the best present he could give them is Labour's plan for affordable houses more cops on the beat properly funded schools and hospitals and a fair share for all?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I do not think anyone would want to inflict on a New Zealand household particularly one that was working hard to get ahead the dreary picture that Labour paints of their prospects in this wonderful country. We certainly would not want to present them with anything from the Labour Party.Andrew Little: Will Judith Collins finally get more police in her stocking this year or is it a merrier Christmas for the burglars who now have a 95 percent chance of just getting away with it?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I am sure that the Minister of Police will be getting a lovely Christmas card from the Commissioner of Police and also that any burglars who think they are going to be active over Christmas need to understand that the commissioner has said that burglary is a priority and the police will be attending burglary call outs.Andrew Little: Will Jonathan Coleman finally get the properly funded health system he asked for in his letter to Santa last week or is he on the naughty list for challenging the leadership?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: As his deputy leader will know every Budget is like Christmas time for a health Minister because they always get the lion's share of new spending from Government. But this health Minister has actually made much more impact with the money that he has had through new programmes like the bowel screening programme which will screen I think hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders and prevent hundreds of deaths.Andrew Little: Given that he now has four ambitious amigos three resigning Ministers and two brooding rivals who is going to rescue Nick Smith from the pear tree?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: The basic difference is this: we have 59 members of Parliament and that is a great deal more than that member has. It does not matter what presents he gets for Christmas—that is basically not going to change.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Exactly what sort of Christmas will it be for a bunch of egregious self-serving careerists who have been given the Don't come to"—[Interruption] Ha ha! They cannot take it eh? They cannot take it. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I can understand the reason for the interjection but we now require no interjection so the question can be heard and then I can decide whether it has been addressed satisfactorily.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I had hardly got going and they recognised themselves. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am not sure why they were making that noise but I do not think that was the reason. The member can proceed with his question if he wants.Rt Hon Winston Peters: What will a bunch of egregious self-serving ambitious careerists who have been given the "Don't come to caucus Tuesday" message and certain tiresomely useless Cabinet Ministers get on this Christmas when they know they have been given the boot?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Given it is the season of goodwill and the member has seen many Christmases I must say he is a very well-dressed egregious self-serving careerist."