4. Question No. 4—Social DevelopmentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 4—Social Development4. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by all her policies and actions? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Yes particularly this Government's policies to provide more support for low and middle income families through our $5.5 billion Families Package invest nearly $50 million into Mana in Mahi to support our young people into sustainable work index main benefit rates to increases in average wages remove a harmful sanction that penalises sole parents and their children increase benefit abatement thresholds and deliver a programme of culture change that ensures people are treated with dignity and respect and are able to access their full and correct entitlements. Hon Louise Upston: Why has the number of young people stuck on benefit for more than 12 months increased by 25 percent as a result of her policies? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: This Government has been working very proactively to ensure that we are effectively working with young people that come into contact with the benefit system with the welfare system. What we have seen is a trend downwards with respect to the youth payment and the young parent payment. Where there are increases overall in the welfare system with respect to benefit numbers then we of course see that come into effect for that particular age group as well. Keeping the numbers in perspective as we've heard today the unemployment rate is at 4.2 percent. I think that that's something that this Government can be proud of. Hon Louise Upston: Why have a smaller proportion of people stayed off benefit for six months compared to last year? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I do think that the member might be referring to the annual report and impact indicators and if the member is then on pages 30 and 31 of that particular annual report where the impact indicators are discussed there's also a footnote that says that the result reported against each year refers to the calculation relating to two years previously—i.e. the 2018-19 result refers to spending in 2016 and 2017. So we do need to be cautious that there is a lag time with respect to the actual positive results that we can see from some of the policies that we might be implementing and some of the negative results that that member is referring to could in fact be because of the previous Government's decisions and policies. Hon Louise Upston: Why has the proportion of people who stay off benefit having completed an intervention fallen every year even though it was increasing under National? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: As I said the impact indicators that the member is talking about—there is a footnote on that particular page that says that there can be a lag effect and that we do need to take into consideration the policies of two years previously. What I'm really proud of is that if we look at the overall picture with regards to what's happening with unemployment in this country what we are seeing is that actually the unemployment rate is the third-lowest that it's been in over a decade and all of the three lows that have been hit have been hit by this side of the House not the previous Government. Hon Louise Upston: Of the 22000 extra people on the job seeker benefit why are there fewer getting into work and on the path to independence under her watch? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: This Government is really focused on upskilling and training. When you look at the low unemployment rate that we are facing as a country the reality is that what we do have are employers who are looking for more skilled workers. So with respect to filling those workforce demands in terms of meeting the employers expectations we as a Government need to be focused on upskilling and training to ensure that our people are well-equipped to go into the jobs that exist. So I'm really proud of the work that this side of the House has been doing with respect to our focus on education and training not just through the Ministry of Social Development but of course through our education system. It's important that we continue that work and I think that we're on the right path.