11778 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

11778 (2026). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the gender-based statistics of people, if any, who have seen a reduction in the amount they receive from the accommodation supplement since the 2nd of March changes to how board payments are calculated?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) is unable to provide the information sought by the member within a written parliamentary question timeframe. I am further advised that this information has not previously been published. Providing the information to the Member would require a substantial amount of investigation to determine whether the information can be generated, and if so, a substantial amount of time will be required to create and test the code necessary to provide this data, diverting staff from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time and hence the expense, of answering the Member’s question is not in the public interest.