5. Question No. 5—Regional Economic DevelopmentHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 5—Regional Economic Development5. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Does he agree with all of the findings of the Controller and Auditor-General's report Managing the Provincial Growth Fund; if not what findings does he disagree with?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): Page 7 recommendations yes.Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question wasn't about the recommendations; it was about the findings—all of the findings in the report—and he hasn't addressed that.SPEAKER: I think the member asked for something that the Minister disagreed with and he's given something. You don't make a recommendation if it's not based on a finding and if the member says that the recommendation is wrong he probably almost certainly thinks that the finding was as well.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Well speaking to that there are a plethora of findings; there are only three recommendations. I don't think mathematically they stack.SPEAKER: Right. Supplementary question?Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree with the report's finding that The integrity of data about job creation is even more important now given the effect of Covid-19 on unemployment." and if so does he have confidence in the job data he announced via press release yesterday?Hon SHANE JONES: Well obviously such data is dynamic. I think it's important for us to bear in mind week by week projects are advancing and firms are being engaged. Data of this character is not static.Hon Michael Woodhouse: If the data is dynamic—it was 10000 last week 13000 this week—what's the number today?Hon SHANE JONES: Given that there's one more question day if you'd like to put that down in writing I'll go and find out from the officials.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree with the statement of Auditor-General John Ryan that "There is some reporting on jobs although we mention in the report that it is a very hard number to verify and to see whether it meets the requirement of the fund." and if so how is he able to issue press releases estimating the number of jobs?Hon SHANE JONES: The stewardship of this fund has been driven by optimism and confidence—qualities that I exude. I think it's very important that the member bears in mind—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Just made up.Hon SHANE JONES: —that throughout the life of the fund the—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Order! The member will withdraw and apologise.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Withdraw and apologise.Hon SHANE JONES: As I was saying the Auditor-General has been engaging with the bureaucracy over the life of the fund and there are a host of improvements that have been secured as a consequence of the ongoing involvement of that office. As I've said before the nature of the jobs number will evolve as the projects mature.Hon Michael Woodhouse: How can the Minister be confident in his claimed number of new jobs created when the report of the Auditor-General states the Provincial Development Unit (PDU) is still "Considering matters such as: What counts as a job"?Hon SHANE JONES: As I said it's such a dynamic area. It's important to bear in mind that that is a snapshot that reflection that is in the report. The most important thing is we have continued to approve and projects are evolving. I mean there have been lots of jobs for others given that my office has actually answered 8630 written questions.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister as to whether or not there have been some seriously respected businessmen and women—with a record of serious achievement as well—associated with the PDU and that is why $700 million only thus far of the $3 billion has been paid out because it's properly accounted for—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Order! I've been shortening the others up.Hon SHANE JONES: In the architecture and the governance of the fund myself the Minister of Finance Mr Twyford and David Parker were well and truly supported by an independent appraisal committee led by the redoubtable businessman from the South Island Rodger Finlay. It would be very unwise for anyone in the House to cavil against a man of such mana."