Good on National MP Judith Collins for pointing out that the number of young people on sickness and invalid's benefits has substantially increased under Labour.
To add weight to her argument, that this is a new trend under Labour, the number of Invalid Benefits paid to 15-19 year-olds in 1990 was 1,923 - just 11 fewer than in 2000.
In 1990 there were 1,889 15-19 year-olds receiving a sickness benefit. The number had dropped to 1,077 by 2000.
Conclusion: National has a better record than Labour in respect to the number of young people on incapacity benefits.
I am appalled by Ruth Dyson's reaction;
Social Development and Employment Minister Ruth Dyson was not concerned about the figures, saying the overall increase was "hardly a change at all".
How can she justify that?
In 2001 there were 265,281 15-19 year-olds - by 2006 300,198 15-19 year-olds (Census counts).
That's a 13 percent rise over roughly the same period. Yet the growth in 15-19 year-olds on either a sickness or invalid benefit is 65 percent.
Can anybody else have a shot at explaining her response?
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