Benson-Pope Misleads Parliament - Mitchell

Welfare commentator Lindsay Mitchell says that once again the Minister for Social Development, David Benson-Pope, has shown he does not understand his portfolio.

"Yesterday he told Parliament, 'People coming off a benefit in the last year outnumbered those going on to any benefit by a ratio of 4:1.' "

"If Mr Benson-Pope understood his portfolio he would immediately recognise that this is simply not possible."

"Typically between 50 and 60 percent of the total caseload turns over each year. With a current caseload of around 280,000 at least 140,000 will have been new applications granted in the past year. In which case 560,000 people must have come off any benefit to satisfy a 4:1 ratio. That is impossible."

"The quality of the advice Benson-Pope is getting from the Ministry is very poor but his inability to recognise this is even more worrying. "

Lindsay Mitchell Welfare Commentator ph/fx 04 562 7944 mobile 021 293 4569

www.lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com

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