7. Veterans—Funding SupportDARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for VeteransVeterans—Funding Support7. DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Veterans: Does he stand by all his statements?Hon RON MARK (Minister for Veterans): Yes. In particular I stand by my statement made at the 101st national council of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association that in regards to Government funding for the association I'm pretty confident that there will be discussions a bit later on which you might like the outcome of." Today I can confirm that the Government has agreed to make a grant of $250000 to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association and for the very first time a grant of $20000 to No Duff Charitable Trust in recognition of the health services they provide to veterans. This funding will be used to improve the delivery of services including for the more than 20000 contemporary veterans to assist the RSA in professionalising their delivery model.Darroch Ball: What reports has the Minister received about funding support for the Returned and Services' Association between 2005 and 2008?Mr SPEAKER: Sorry can the member repeat the question. Sorry I was just momentarily distracted.Darroch Ball: What reports has the Minister received about funding support for the Returned and Services' Association between 2005 and 2008?Hon RON MARK: Unfortunately that picture is not such a positive thing. I have received a report that indicates that the funding established by the Labour - New Zealand First Government ended in 2011 and that it was not renewed. In the five subsequent financial years the National-led Government of the time made two one-off grants of $150000 one grant of $172000 one grant of $175000 and in 2014 they gave no money at all to the Returned and Services' Association. Quite apart from the funding levels concerned and the uncertain up-and-down nature of the grants that money had to be taken from other appropriations to veterans. As my colleague the Minister of Finance is finding across many portfolios this is yet another example of the previous Government knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.Darroch Ball: What is the Minister's intent for future grants to veterans support organisations?Hon RON MARK: In future decisions on grants will be made through the Budget process in consultation with the Minister of Finance and my Cabinet colleagues. We will work to provide some certainty for these organisations as they previously had under the Labour - New Zealand First Government. Of course we wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for the previous Government scrapping the multi-year baseline grant funding. Hon Simon Bridges: What did he whisper in the Prime Minister's ear while they were attending the 101st national council of the RSA on 1 November 2017 that was clearly so successful?Hon RON MARK: I can tell the honourable member that I simply pointed out to the Prime Minister the fact that under the Labour - New Zealand First Government we put in baseline funding of $250000 a year and that the National Government had scrapped it and I asked her to have a look at it. Hon Steven Joyce: Given the Minister's support for veterans does he support the cancellation of the previous Government's tax package next week which will remove the increase in veterans pensions that would otherwise have occurred from 1 April which would obviously be of concern to veterans? Hon RON MARK: Oh I absolutely support the financial direction that the Minister of Finance is taking. As veterans know it will be the policies that we advance in support of those veterans that will be of far more benefit to them than anything that Government ever did in the nine long years that they suffered under them."