29681 (2023). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

29681 (2023). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the number of voluntary unemployment stand downs, if any, imposed on working age main benefit clients with children since March 2017 by quarter, broken down by ethnicity, age band, gender, reason, and benefit type?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (Ministry) is unable to provide the information sought by the Member on whether a client has a child at the time of a voluntary unemployment stand down being imposed within a written parliamentary question timeframe as it would take substantial effort and require the Ministry to divert personnel from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 199-6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering these questions within this timeframe is not in the public interest.