Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

4 July 2007

Benson-Pope confuses on MSD staff

“David Benson-Pope must clear up the confusion he’s created about the number of extra staff at Work and Income after accusing me of getting it wrong,” says National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins.

According to information provided in the 2007/08 estimates, the number of staff in MSD’s Work and Income Unit has increased from 3600 in June 2002 to 4161 in April 07.

Ms Collins says the total staff numbers and salaries at MSD have increased significantly.

The number of staff is up from 5,085 in June 2002 to 6,299 in 2006.
The number of staff at CYFS has also increased, from 2,004 to 2,831.

“In defending the bureaucratic bloating, the Minister has tried to say that the MSD now has more responsibilities. But even excluding all the other functions that the Minister has claimed – MSD staff numbers have increased from about 7,000 in 2002 to more than 9,000 today.”

For the record, the Office of Senior Citizens has about seven staff. Disability Issues has about 14, and the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector has eight staff.

“For year ending June 2004 there were 24 MSD staff dedicated to communications, media or public relations with a salary bill of $1,838,807. That figure has more than doubled to 54 staff in June 2007 with a salary bill of $4.1 million

“And for all the increased capacity, MSD has still spent more than $40 million on external contractors and consultants in the past four years.”

ENDS

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