QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday, 21 February 2002

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister for Economic Development: What reassurances can he give that, if New Zealand ratifies the Kyoto Protocol and Australia does not, New Zealand will not lose jobs to Australia in heavy industries such as the Glenbrook steel mill at Waiuku, Comalco's Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, and Milburn's cement works in Westport?

2. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Will the Government withdraw from the United States-led coalition in Afghanistan now the war has entered a new phase with United States bombing raids aimed at opponents of the Afghan interim Government who are unconnected with the Taleban and al Qaeda, as reported in this morning's New Zealand Herald; if not, why not?

3. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Justice: Is it Government policy that sentences should deter other offenders; if so, why is there no sentencing principle in clause 8 of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill to require deterrent sentencing?

4. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Will New Zealand still contribute election observers to Zimbabwe in light of the European Union decision to withdraw their observer mission?

5. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: Is she concerned with media reports that the number of young cancer patients treated at the Starship children's hospital is under threat as Auckland District Health Board managers have been instructed to develop urgent plans to contain cost blowouts; if not, why not?

6. KEVIN CAMPBELL to the Minister for Courts: Why have civil court fees been reviewed?

7. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Police: What is his response to the campaign launched by mayors George Wood and Bob Harvey to get the Government to address the issue of declining quality of policing?

8. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Further to her answer to yesterday's oral question No 1, is one of the Treaty of Waitangi principles, to be formulated as policy and translated into legislation, that of tino rangatiratanga, as outlined in the November 2001 report of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission and defined as allowing "for Maori self-determination over their possessions; recognises the right of iwi to manage their own affairs; affirms the right to development"; if so, is this principle to be given effect across every sphere of the Government's responsibility?

9. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Justice: Is the Government considering proposing further amendments to the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill; if so, what are they?

10. ANN HARTLEY to the Minister responsible for Climate Change: What is the Government's response to the reported statement by the Leader of the Opposition that it is making a "headlong rush to place New Zealand as the first developed nation to face commitments from ratifying the Kyoto Protocol"?

11. BELINDA VERNON to the Minister of Transport: What is the estimated increase in used car prices expected as a result of the new frontal impact standards, and which groups will be most disadvantaged by these price increases?

12. TAITO PHILLIP FIELD to the Associate Minister of Education: What progress has been made in the implementation of the Adult Literacy Strategy?

Questions to Members

1. RODNEY HIDE to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: Is the hearing of evidence on the financial review of New Zealand Post Ltd complete; if not, when is it expected to be?

ENDS

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