10. Question No. 10—CorrectionsTONI SEVERIN (ACT) to the Minister of CorrectionsQuestion No. 10—Corrections10. TONI SEVERIN (ACT) to the Minister of Corrections: Does he think that assessing a prisoner's psychological state when they enter prison is important for understanding their rehabilitation needs and does he also think that assessing a prisoner's literacy and numeracy skills is important for understanding their education needs?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Corrections): I think that both things are important in a prison context. I note that delivery of these services has been affected in recent times as Corrections—like many others—has faced challenges with COVID-19 and more recently staffing levels. However I am advised that in the case of psychological reports Corrections has also made improvements in their approach to risk assessment and is increasingly focusing its psychologists into treatment units and mental health teams. This means that more targeted assessment and support is taking place. Likewise in the case of literacy and numeracy assessments I'm advised that Corrections has streamlined the recording of assessments conducted reducing the number of needless reassessments conducted and has also seen an increase in the learners recorded in the NZQA database as having a qualification at level 1 of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) or higher resulting in fewer prisoners requiring assessment.Toni Severin: Is it acceptable that Corrections has done 2776 fewer psychological assessments on prisoners in 2022-23 compared to 2017-18 and has fallen almost by 38 percent and how can Corrections know what psychological support prisoners need if they're not assessing them?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Well again there's about three or four questions in that question. Not every person managed by Corrections will require an assessment by a psychologist or is willing to engage with a psychologist. As I said in the answer to the primary question furthermore: a reduction in these numbers is to be expected given improvements in Corrections' approach to risk assessment to ensure that people in prison are not unnecessarily assessed; and an increasing distribution of psychologists in prisons towards treatment and mental health support targeting support where it is needed. They are also interim numbers so do not account for a full financial year.Toni Severin: Is it acceptable that Corrections completed 61 percent fewer literacy assessments and 63 percent fewer numeracy assessments of prisoners in 2022-23 compared to 2018-19; and how can Corrections know what education support prisoners need if they're not assessing them?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: As I said in the answer to the primary question: reduction in these numbers is to be expected given Corrections has streamlined the recording of assessments conducted reducing the number of needless reassessments conducted; and has also seen an increase in learners recorded in the NZQA database as having a qualification at level 1 of the NZQF or higher resulting in fewer prisoners requiring assessment. It's important to note that the interim figures for 2022-23 are already higher than the previous year so we are making progress returning to pre - COVID-19 levels.Toni Severin: How is it possible that Corrections is doing far fewer psychological numeracy and literacy assessments than five years ago when there are 38 percent fewer sentenced prisoners behind bars?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: As I said in the answer to the primary question: reduction in these numbers is expected given Corrections has streamlined the recording of assessments reducing the number of needless assessments seeing an increase in learners recorded in the NZQA database as having a qualification at level 1 and resulting in fewer prisoners requiring assessment.David Seymour: Point of order Mr Speaker. I'm sorry. Due to the Hon Andrew Little shouting across the aisle I literally couldn't hear what the Minister was saying and I actually did want to hear it.SPEAKER: Yeah I could say that about a number of questions just about every single day. I've ruled previously that clearly the House is telling us that it doesn't want to hear.David Seymour: But—SPEAKER: Yeah I know what you're going to say. But you can't have it both ways. Robust to me means both sides of the House. You can't be complaining about one side when actually the side that you're sitting on also does the same. If the House wants a different way happy to hear it.David Seymour: Well Mr Speaker—SPEAKER: A new point of order or commentary?David Seymour: No. I wonder if that particular question might be repeated. If Mr Little can just contain himself we might hear the answer.