Logie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Logie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 20 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3132. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7. 
JAN LOGIE (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: Will she consider reviewing benefit levels in light of recent University of Otago research that shows that the 40 percent increase in real power prices since 2002 is now a health issue? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 No. However we do review benefit levels every year. In fact this Government legislated for CPI adjustments and in the period the member refers to benefit rates have increased by 30 percent. 
Jan Logie 
: Will the Minister accept that if power rent and basic healthy food alone now cost more than many benefits and the only option most people have is to get hardship grants which force many of them into debt budgeting advice is an inadequate response and that really she needs to review the benefit funding formulas? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: In general actually rent power and food do not exceed the benefit particularly when you take into consideration accommodation supplements and add-ons that people can get depending on their circumstances. I am quite proud that we have not just held benefit levels where they are in some of the toughest economic situations but we have actually CPI-legislated for them to be increased. There is hardship assistance as the member has identified and in many cases that is not repayable. It is a grant not a loan. 
Jan Logie 
: I seek leave of the House to table the Regional Public Health 2011 report  
Food Costs for Families 
 which demonstrates the amount of income being spent on rent and food. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Jan Logie 
: I seek leave of the House to table a Ministry of Social Development report from 2008 entitled  
Hardship Assistance Available as Lump Sums 
 which demonstrates that over half of the hardship grants are recoverable. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Jan Logie 
: Will the Minister accept that our high rates of rheumatic fever skin conditions and asthma are connected to the poverty created by insufficient benefit payments which do not enable families to provide the very basics of food warmth and shelter for themselves and their children? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: No I will not. But what I would say is that we do take into consideration how incredibly important that is. In fact the Minister of Health has announced new initiatives and increases in funding going into work with rheumatic fever. Where I also think the member could make a point is that in partnership with this Government the Green Party— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! That is not necessary. 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I was going to be positive. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member may wish to make a speech but this is question time. 
Jan Logie 
: I seek leave of the House to table the National Heart Foundation’s  
New Zealand Guidelines for Rheumatic Fever 
 which establishes the link between poverty and rheumatic fever. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Jan Logie 
: Will the Minister as the Green Party has recommended make Working for Families available to families in receipt of an income-tested benefit to help protect the health of these families as their parents look for work? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: No but what we will do is celebrate the 189000 homes that have been insulated through the Warm Up New Zealand initiative in conjunction with the Green Party.