Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak in this debate. Having initiated this inquiry back last year when I was the education spokesperson for National, I'm thrilled that it was carried out by the select committee and that they highlighted the importance of the issue, because, you know, the reality is, looking at the education sector in New Zealand, there's an obvious issue around our falling achievement in terms of literacy and numeracy, which is fundamental to our nation's prospects in the future and the prospects of the lives of the young people coming through so they can succeed and do well in the global environment and be able to obtain good jobs and a good living and be able to look after their families well. A good, global standard of education is one of the most important gifts we can give anybody in this country.