7. Question No. 7—Social Development and EmploymentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 7—Social Development and Employment7. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is she confident the Government's policies and actions to address youth unemployment are fit for purpose?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Yes. The Government has laid out our approach to youth unemployment through our employment strategy and the youth employment action plan. We reiterated this commitment during the election and in the Speech from the Throne last week. Our plan includes continuing successful programmes like Mana in Mahi He Poutama Rangatahi free apprenticeships and training rolling out Tupu Aotearoa and new investment into things like expanding Flexi-wage and the training incentive allowance—to name a few. We are proud of our record of investing in young people. And while there is more to do we know this investment is already making a difference to many.Hon Louise Upston: How many 18- to 24-year-olds were on the jobseeker benefit at the end of October this year and how does this compare to the number of 18- to 24-year-olds on jobseeker benefit at the end of October 2019?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I will say that globally countries are experiencing an issue with employment or higher levels of unemployment. Unfortunately the reality is for many countries that young people bear the brunt of recessions like we are faced with now. So the numbers of under-24-year-olds on benefit in October 2020 was 68745 and that compares to 49155 in October 2019.Hon Louise Upston: What is the maximum number of people the Government's youth employment schemes He Poutama Rangatahi and Mana in Mahi can actually support into work with the 68000 18- to 24-year-olds on benefit at the end of October?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: It's important to mention that there's no one or even two programmes that have been developed to address unemployment or employment for young people. Mana in Mahi is one He Poutama Rangatahi is another. But as I said there is more happening including the Apprenticeship Boost. If I only refer to Mana in Mahi 1622 young people have enrolled or completed Mana in Mahi to date. The achievement has been good; the retention has been good. The vast majority have either completed are still on the programme or have exited on to employment or training elsewhere.Hon Louise Upston: Will the Minister set a specific target to reduce the number of 18- to 24-year-olds on benefit with the Government's own employment strategy saying They are at a far greater risk of poorer outcomes later in life including lower wages lower employment levels and poorer"—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member's completed a question. The quote is not necessary.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As we saw from the last National Government simply putting targets in place doesn't necessarily address the issues that young people face in this country or unemployment in general. I think if we reflect back to the time following—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume her seat. There was a very clear question asked and the Minister has not yet started to address it. She will address the question that was asked rather than other matters which she would prefer to do.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Point of order Mr Speaker. Perhaps just saying that as the member went on I potentially lost track of the question. So perhaps that member could repeat her question.SPEAKER: I will tell the member because I was listening and it was a question about whether the Minister will set targets.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Simply setting targets does not necessarily achieve the results that we as a country need to be achieved. What we are doing is using an evidence approach to supporting young people into employment upskilling and training. We want to support as many young people as we possibly can to realise their potential. This Government's investment in upskilling and training including apprenticeships clearly indicates that we are committed to that.Hon Louise Upston: Is the Minister satisfied with 69000 young people under the age of 25 on benefit that programmes like Mana in Mahi are only serving 1600?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: If Mana in Mahi was the only programme then yes I would be concerned but we have a vast array of programmes that have been put in place to be able to support young people into employment upskilling and training. We don't want to see any New Zealand young person have potential wasted. So we are doing our very best to actually support—Hon Louise Upston: 69000.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: —all young people in New Zealand—SPEAKER: Order! Order! We'll have one person answering the question not the person who asked the question trying to answer it from her bench.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: —to realise their potential."