QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Wednesday, 17 April 2002

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: In light of media reports that members of the Alliance yesterday attended separate faction meetings in Hon Jim Anderton's and Hon Laila Harré's offices instead of their regular caucus meeting, and that the two groups did a deal to divide the Alliance's parliamentary funding 60-40, will these developments affect coalition stability; if not, why not?

2. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: When were income tax rates last cut and what were the consequences of those cuts?

3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What has she done to implement Labour's pre-election manifesto commitment that "we will ensure that New Zealand is regarded as a fair and honest player in the international creative industries environment"?

4. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Local Government: Specifically what principles is she referring to in clause 4 of Part 1 of the Local Government Bill, which requires local authorities, "To recognise and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, ..." and what is the authority for her answer?

5. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What action has the Government taken in response to events in Zimbabwe?

6. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: In light of her earlier statements that "To my certain knowledge, I am far from the only MP to have been assisted with a contribution of this kind" and "my inquiries reveal that this is far from unique, not only for politicians but for celebrities as well" and her statement to the House yesterday that "The advice I referred to was not about an existing member of Parliament", can she advise the House which of her statements is an accurate description of how many members she believes have passed off works of art they did not produce as their own?

7. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What progress has been made on a secure internet support system for school principals?

8. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Associate Minister of Justice: Was the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill intended to cover members of Parliament who withdraw, leave or are expelled from the party they were elected to represent, but who continue to claim to be a member, whip or even leader of that same party for parliamentary purposes; if not, why not?

9. ROD DONALD to the Minister of Finance: Will he use the occasion of his forthcoming Foreign Investment function to announce that he is adopting the recommendations of Government and Green members on the Finance and Expenditure Committee that the Government will consider requiring the Overseas Investment Commission to consider the impact on social wellbeing, environmental sustainability and economic sovereignty when assessing whether an overseas investment will accrue the fullest possible benefit to New Zealand; if not, why not?

10. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Defence: For what price did the Government sell the 4.03 hectares of defence land upon which Sovereign Yachts is based, and can he confirm that the General Manager, Defence Force Services, in a memorandum to the Chief of the Defence Force on 20 December 2000, stated that if the Government had "waited until the whole base was surplus and then entered into an agreement with the Waitakere City with regard to their plans for the area" the value "would have become between $7.5 and $10 million"?

11. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Minister of Education: What new information caused him to dismiss the head of the Teachers Council, Kathleen Irwin, when the formal State Services Commission inquiry is reported to be only days away from completing its investigation?

12. HARRY DUYNHOVEN to the Minister of Transport: What reports has he received about patronage on public transport in New Zealand?

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