3. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has she received about the number of people receiving benefits?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
I have received a report saying that at the end of May this year there was a total of 255,000 people on benefits. That is 5,000 fewer people than at the same time last year. This includes all people on unemployment, domestic purposes, sickness, and invalids benefits. Under a Labour-led Government people continue to move off benefits and into paid work.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
What is the main reason for people to move off the unemployment benefit?
The main reason for people leaving the unemployment benefit is to enter paid employment. It is simply not true to allege, as the National Party does, that a large number of people move from the unemployment benefit to the sickness or invalids benefit. Between March 2000 and March of this year there were close to 1 million cancellations of the unemployment benefit; 8.8 percent of those cancellations were because of a transfer to the sickness benefit, and only 0.3 of 1 percent were because of a transfer to an invalids benefit. The main reason for people leaving the unemployment benefit is to move into paid work.
Judith CollinsCan the Minister provide a straightforward answer to a reasonably straightforward question—why is it taking more bureaucrats, especially in the communications and policy units, to administer fewer benefits?
As I explained to the member at the select committee and in the House last week, it is our policy to ensure that people are aware of and receive their full and correct entitlements. That is a primary role of a core Government department, and that is why people now do not complain about Work and Income in the way they did when that member’s party was leading the Government.