2. Question No. 2—Social Development and EmploymentHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston): to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 2—Social Development and EmploymentHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston): What feedback if any has she received from social services given—oh hang on. Sorry—can I start again? I think I've got the wrong question written. Apologies House. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Sorry. Just wait—just wait. Good. Are we all calm now?2. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston): to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What feedback if any have social service providers given her on their ability to meet current hardship demands in their communities?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): I regularly speak with social service providers because I value the tireless work they provide supporting New Zealanders. They have told me that especially with the prolonged cost of living crisis many New Zealanders are still doing it tough and there continues to be hardship demand. Demand is varying by region and the service provided. Our Government is committed to reducing hardship by reducing the cost of living helping more people into work and empowering local organisations to support their communities.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Will she look to increase the funding for food support given organisations like the Salvation Army are reporting increased demand as a direct result of declines for hardship support through the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I reject the assertion that's been made in that comment about the service that MSD provide. But I do accept as I said before that there is genuine hardship in our communities which in most cases has been caused by the previous Government's inactions which has led to an economic crisis and families everywhere are doing it incredibly tough.SPEAKER: That is about as close as you can get to making an attack on the other side. I think it is unnecessary it's unhelpful.Ingrid Leary: Has she received feedback that as a result of her Government's cuts the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service will be forced to close next year and that this comes at a time when more and more Dunedin working families are struggling financially and needing their support?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I want to be very clear about the fact that financial capability services will continue to be provided as they have been at the level they were funded to. There is a procurement process under way which will mean that some providers that were providing a service will be different. But services will continue to be provided.Lemauga Lydia Sosene: Has she received feedback that as a result of her Government's cuts Vaiola Pacific Island Budgeting Service Trust Māngere which provides critical services for Māngere working families will have less money to work with these struggling families?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said a procurement process is under way that may mean changes to who is providing the service in each area but the services will continue to be provided in every region.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Will she prioritise support for social services at this year's Budget given forecast increases in unemployment incomes for our poorest New Zealanders not keeping up with the cost of living and cuts to policies that did help to alleviate the pressure for many families?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: What I can commit to is that this Government will prioritise addressing the cost of living crisis providing tax relief supporting more New Zealanders into employment and out of the hardship. Hon Karen Chhour: How will the commitment in the coalition agreement between National and the ACT Party to provide opportunity for all in education health and employment reduce hardship in the long term?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Only by grappling with the long-term drivers of hardship will we be able to reduce the demand for hardship. The Government is committed to doing this consistent with its coalition commitments whether through improving school attendance supporting more people off welfare and into work or grappling with the complex drivers of dysfunction. We are committed to taking action to reduce hardship rather than just setting up working groups and talkfests.