10. Schools Private—Funding and FeesCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of EducationSchools Private—Funding and Fees10. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of Education: Does the Government monitor or place any restrictions on the fees charged by private schools; if not why not?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Associate Minister of Education) on behalf of the Minister of Education: No; because it is a choice made by parents. No parent is compelled to send their child to an independent school. I am proud to be part of a Government that backs the diverse range of choices in education for New Zealand parents.Chris Hipkins: Does she think that private schooling is a realistic option for the parents of kids who are most at risk of not achieving in the school system when some are charging over $20000 a year in tuition fees; if so why?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I can confirm that the Government does also provide a component around the Aspire Scholarship which is specifically focused on disadvantaged students.Chris Hipkins: What proportion of kids attending private schools meet the Government's criteria indicating that they are most at risk of not achieving in the school system?Hon NIKKI KAYE: As I have said previously there is a consultation out currently around the funding review. Some of those issues are being worked through. I know there are a range of independent papers that are actually on the internet that the member can look at.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will just invite the member to repeat the question.Chris Hipkins: What proportion of kids attending private schools meet the Government's criteria indicating that they are most at risk of not achieving in the school system?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I will answer the question a different way. The whole purpose of the funding review is to work through a range of those issues. I cannot answer that question in part because there are 26900 students and some of those considerations are being worked through as part of the funding review.Chris Hipkins: Does she propose to place any restrictions on the fees that private schools can charge in exchange for any additional funding they receive as a result of the new funding model?Hon NIKKI KAYE: As per my previous answer I can tell you what happens now but the whole purpose of the funding review—in which there are a range of representatives from the sector—is to discuss a range of issues. All I can say to you is that at the moment we do not place restrictions and we do not monitor and that is because we do value the choice of parents. But I do not want to get ahead of a process whereby a whole lot of stakeholders are being involved in this funding review.Chris Hipkins: If she does not know how much parents are currently paying does not know how much funding private schools currently get and does not know how many kids at private schools are at risk of not achieving why is she proposing to give them more money?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I disagree with a number of assumptions that the member made in that question. Firstly we do know how much we provide independent schools—that is about $45 million per year. As I said in my previous answers we have said on average we see that as about $1700 per student. So the member is wrong in terms of his question.