12682 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

12682 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many, if any, applications were approved for a School and Year Start-up Payment since November 2023; broken down by month?

Hon Louise Upston: Due to how applications for School and Year Start-Up Payments are recorded in Ministry systems, providing the number of applications and number of applications declined would require a review of individual client files, and for the Ministry to undertake substantial manual collation and divert staff from their core duties. In accordance with the Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering this part of the Member’s questions is not in the public interest. This is also my response to written parliamentary questions 12681 and 12683 (2026).