The Government's announcement that an extra $100,000 will be going into HIPPY programmes this year raises questions about where the other $200,000 cut from PAFT is going, National's Early Childhood spokesperson Anne Tolley said today.

"The extra money for the Home Instruction Programme for Pre-school Youngsters (HIPPY) is great news. HIPPY is a good programme - that's why National supported the programme's implementation.

"But I would like to know where the funding cut from the Parents as First Teachers programme (PAFT) is going. $300,000 is being cut from PAFT in 2000/01 but only $100,000 of this is going to HIPPY.

"In addition, the Government plans an ongoing cut of $712,000 per year to PAFT. The Government must tell New Zealanders where that money will be going.

"I can't see how the funding cut to PAFT is in line with the Government's so-called support for 'at risk' families, when the money appears to be disappearing into the Government's coffers," Mrs Tolley said.

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