11. HEKIA PARATA (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What progress has been made on the Government’s Youth Opportunities programme?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The Government’s Youth Opportunities programme has been a huge success. Over 12,500 young people have been on a Job Ops or Community Max placement, thanks to the many businesses and community groups that have given those young people employment opportunities.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
We are continuing to see positive results as those young people finish their placements. Of those who have completed their Job Ops placement, 91 percent have not gone on to a benefit. For Community Max, over 70 percent have not gone on to a benefit.
Jacinda ArdernHow many young people have remained in employment for longer than the Government-subsidised 6 months through its Youth Opportunities package, and is that sufficient for this policy to be labelled a key part of the Government’s package to tackle unemployment in the recession?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The figures I have relate to those who have not gone on to benefits, and I have already given them: 91 percent of Job Ops placements have not gone on to a benefit, and 70 percent of Community Max participants have not gone on to a benefit.
Mr SPEAKERI ask members to be a little more reasonable with the level of interjection; I am struggling to hear.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was very specific. It related to the number of young people who, as part of the Job Ops package, have remained in employment longer than the Government-subsidised 6 months. It was a very specific question and did not relate to benefit numbers.
I presume from the Minister’s answer that she did not have that particular information on her and gave the best proxy she could to indicate the level of success. Presumably, people who have stayed in employment have not gone on to the unemployment benefit. Given the circumstances of the primary question, I think one could not necessarily expect the Minister to have that particular information. I think she gave the best proxy she could for it.
Does the Minister accept the New Zealand Institute’s findings that the impact of the Youth Opportunities package has affected, at most, 12 percent of the young unemployed; if not, what approximate percentage has it assisted?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Well, actually, it has assisted 12,500 young people, and I would have thought that was a very, very good result.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question related specifically to the percentage of young people who have been assisted by this package in relation to the total number of 64,000 young unemployed.
I think what the member has experienced with that exchange is that if there are two parts to a question, the Minister is at liberty to answer one of them. If members want absolutely precise answers, the question needs to be, first, very closely related to the primary question, and, then, a very short question.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That would have been fine if the Hon Judith Collins had given the answer to one of the parts of the question that she gave in replying to the point of order. She did not do that when she was answering the question.
Is the member doing anything other than disputing my ruling? I do not think that is particularly helpful. I think the Minister’s answer to the question was reasonable.
What percentage of the total young unemployed has the Government’s Youth Opportunities package assisted?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Well, it is about 12,500 people. As to those who are unemployed, the member should consider that the figure according to the household labour force survey is significantly different from the number of people on the unemployment benefit, because, as that member should know, the household labour force survey asks anybody, and counts as unemployed anyone who says they are available for 1 hour’s work a week. That is hardly, in most people’s calculations, considered to be wanting a job.