4. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Minister of State Services
Is she satisfied with the way in which the State Services Commission offered advice on the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services - Ministry of Social Development merger?
Hon ANNETTE KINGWhy, when the State Services Commission in December last year warned that a merger could “destabilise MSD” and create an “unmanageable chief executive position”, and that the capability and operational problems that the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services faced would not be fixed by a merger, did she ignore the commission’s advice?
No. The State Services Commissioner changed his mind over Christmas, and came back to the Government and said he had changed his mind.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
What are the outcomes that the Government expects to receive from the merger?
The paper prepared by my official recommended a much wider range of initiatives than just the merger. That complete package of measures will include services for the most vulnerable children in New Zealand. They include the merger, of course, but also the improvement of systems-wide management, improved information management, improved youth justice capability, the addressing of the culture issues, and greater policy coordination.
Which report from the State Services Commissioner is right: the one in December 2005 that says: “We do not think that the capability and operational problems faced by CYFS will necessarily be any more easily resolved in the context of a larger organisation. The potential is rather that the problems will be more difficult to address because of the inevitable loss of focus due to scope.”, or the report from January 2006—1 month later—that says the merger is “the best option for improving the delivery of services for children, youth, and their families”—and why?
He had the period between December and January to give it greater consideration—which he did—and he changed his mind.
What was the extent of the consultation between the State Services Commission and Child, Youth and Family Services and Ministry of Social Development senior staff before the State Services Commission report was signed off on 27 January this year?
I am unable to give the member the answer. I do not have it with me. I am certainly happy to find it out for the member.
What other explanation is there for the State Services Commission’s dramatic change in position, other than the obvious one that her Government put political pressure on the State Services Commissioner over Christmas to change the advice?