Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Cosgrove Clayton: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:671;Page:17668] 
6. 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Is the Government considering extending the business assistance package for employers and employees beyond the 14-week period currently signalled; if not why not? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The situation is changing all the time but on balance we think we have got it about right at more than 3 months’ extra financial assistance. We have taken the advice of organisations such as the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Development Corporation. We do not intend to extend the business assistance package at this time but we are constantly looking at it. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Will the current business assistance package be terminated after the extra 6-week period ends given the Prime Minister’s statement that “I think everyone acknowledges we can’t go on forever”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The intention at the moment is for it to run for another 8 weeks. We have 2 more weeks going to 18 April and then the employment support package will be based on quite different criteria. It will not include sole traders and there will be more business mentors who are going in at the moment and talking to those businesses to assess their eligibility. There is no intention to extend it at the moment but as I say the situation is constantly changing. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Does she believe that 14 weeks after the initial quake employers and employees will be in a strong enough position to proceed without assistance given that 6 weeks have passed since 22 February and very little has changed except for the fact that thousands more people are now out of work and hundreds of businesses are still struggling desperately? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: We have taken a lot of advice from businesses on the ground: the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and others. They have said to us that some businesses have obviously already relocated and others intend to do so. After 14 weeks one has to acknowledge that some of those businesses will not survive. We have seen that in recent weeks and we will see more of it coming up. It is a matter of how long we support them to relocate and allowing some others to close because that is unfortunately inevitable. 
Katrina Shanks 
: Has the Minister received any reports about the number of businesses and people still needing the earthquake support package? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: We are seeing quite some changes. I can report that of the 7381 individuals who were on the job loss cover nearly half of them—3500—have told us that they do not need it any more. They went on it in those early weeks and they have now come off it presumably because they have all found work and no longer need that job loss cover. We have also seen that one-third of sole traders have opted in but two-thirds have not. We are also seeing that for the employment support subsidy. As I say it is changing every day. It is a matter of making the system flexible enough to acknowledge that change and to offer the support in the right place. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Given her last answer has any Government agency provided her with advice as to how many Cantabrians will end up on the unemployment benefit once the current support package ends; if so what is that advice and what are the numbers? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I have heard various numbers in the last few days but to be frank they have all come from the Opposition. It feels like that member is plucking numbers out of thin hair quite frankly—sorry I meant to say plucking numbers out of thin air. Members need to be pretty careful where they are getting those figures from. I think they are actually not true. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect the question was specific. It asked the Minister whether any Government agency had provided her with any advice etc. She went on to reference other reports she had received from me and others. I am not a Government agency and I asked her specifically whether she had received any advice— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am not sure that is what the member asked. I may have to apologise if I am wrong but I do not recollect the member asking particularly about Government agencies. I thought he asked about advice. The dilemma I have is that I cannot be sure that the question asked will be exactly the same. [ 
Interruption 
] I am on my feet. The issue is being disputed so to me it is reasonable to allow the member to repeat his question but I will be checking the  
Hansard 
 to make sure that the member is correct on that matter—that he did ask about Government agency advice. I invite him to repeat his question. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I will repeat the question absolutely. Has any Government agency provided her with advice as to how many Cantabrians will end up on the unemployment benefit once the current support package ends; if so what is that advice and what are the numbers? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: No I have not had advice on how many will end up on the unemployment benefit. We have certainly had advice on how many employers may not be able to relocate and we are certainly seeking advice on where we are moving skills training. But it is not a matter of concentrating on how many are going on the unemployment benefit; it is about supporting those businesses and those employees—those people who most need it. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Can she tell the House why she has not proactively sought advice from her Government agency or any other as to how many people will end up on the unemployment benefit once the business support package ends given that she is the Minister for Social Development and Employment and given that the impact of the termination will create a major problem for earthquake victims and business owners desperately trying to survive? Why has she not even asked her agency to do some projections—or do her job? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Our concentration has very much been on supporting the businesses and employees that need us most. The member may not understand the social security system. That support is there for however many need it whether that figure is 1000 or a few thousand. The reality is—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Why don’t you ask your department? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: If that member stopped picking numbers out of thin air and actually looked at what needed to be done which is supporting the employees who need us most he would see that the system is there for those who need it however many do.