Wednesday, 20 September 2000

Questions to Ministers

Paraphrased anwers will be published in the Scoops wire shortly after 3pm.

1. CHRIS CARTER to the Minister of Immigration: How many people are likely to qualify to apply for a two year temporary work permit under the October 2000 transitional policy announced by the Government yesterday?

2. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Treasurer: Has he received any advice on the economic effects of long-term net emigration?

3. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Immigration: Will she lift the 1 October deadline by which overstayers in New Zealand for less than five years lose their appeal rights, and will she be developing a more family-centred immigration policy with a Pacific access category?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: How does the loss of $3.8 million for the quarter to 30 June 2000, announced by New Zealand Post yesterday, compare with the projections in the company's business plan, and what advice has he received as to the prospects of New Zealand Post meeting its forecast profits for the current year?

5. JILL PETTIS to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What is the Government doing to secure the provision of tertiary education within the regions?

6. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Finance: Given New Zealand's low dollar exchange rate, does he still stand by his statement on 3 September 1998 that "New Zealand should now be seeking to take a firm lead on the world stage, in conjunction with like-minded countries to deal with the issue of excessively mobile short-term capital"; if not, why not?

7. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Education: Is he proposing a review of the Education Review Office in the near future; if so, how much money has been budgeted for it?

8. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Minister of Broadcasting: What reports has she received on negotiations towards a closer commercial relationship between Television New Zealand and Sky TV?

9. JANET MACKEY to the Associate Minister of Justice: Since 1 January 1991 how many pieces of legislation have been passed that have a Treaty of Waitangi clause?

10. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Does she accept the statement from the chief executive of the Nurses Organisation that there had been little improvement in the pay and working conditions of nurses since the coalition Government came to power, and will she support the Capital Coast Health nurses' claim for a 7% pay increase?

11. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs: What progress has the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs made with regard to the closing the gaps strategy?

12. Hon TONY RYALL to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does her comment that "obviously if you've got legislation relating to education or housing, you may wish then to see the relevance [of a Treaty clause] and how it would apply" indicate that the Government plans to include Treaty of Waitangi clauses in future education and housing legislation; if not, what does it mean?

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