Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers

I am advised that 1 year after the Working for Families childcare changes were introduced 30,300 families with 36,900 children were receiving childcare assistance. That is an incredible 29 percent more families receiving assistance since October 2004.

💬 Georgina Beyer: Has the Minister received any reports indicating how much better off people are as a result of these changes?

Yes. Data to the end of January 2006 shows that the average weekly payment to families receiving childcare assistance was $71 per week. I am also informed that 20 percent of the families receiving childcare assistance at the end of January this year would not have been eligible for any childcare assistance from the Government under the pre - Working for Families income thresholds.

💬 Judith Collins: How much taxpayer money has he spent so far in writing letters to, and phoning, people who clearly do not qualify for welfare, and does he think that such a scattergun approach in providing welfare is a good use of taxpayers’ money?

Yes, this Government is not focused just on developing good policy; it is also keen to make sure that people are only too aware of the opportunities they have.

Question time interrupted.