Tuesday, 28 May 2002

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Deputy Prime Minister: What changes, if any, will be made to the Coalition Agreement, which he signed, or to current coalition management procedures, when he joins the Progressive Coalition Party before the next election?

2. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: What has the Government done to reduce compliance costs and red tape for New Zealand business?

3. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Finance: Is it correct, as reported in the New Zealand Herald, that at the traditional post-Budget soiree, he stood on a desk and said that the Treasury had asked him to confirm that it had not written the section of his Budget speech that said there was no case for cutting taxes to boost growth, and on what basis did he make the claim that cutting taxes won't boost growth?

4. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Is the Government opposed to the shipment of plutonium, mixed oxide fuel and high level nuclear waste through New Zealand's 200 mile exclusive economic zone; if not, why not?

5. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Education: How does the proposed secondary teachers' settlement of 2 percent for 2001, 1.5 percent for 2002 and 2 percent for 2003 equate to his claim on Morning Report that "This settlement gives on average over the next two years an increase of more than 7 percent, well above inflation," when inflation was 3.1 percent for 2001 and is projected by Treasury in the Budget to be 2.6 percent for 2002 and 2.5 percent for 2003?

6. DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister of Communications: What reports has he received on the response to the Government's decision to establish telephone relay services for people who are deaf or who have speech or hearing impairments?

7. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister of Maori Affairs: Did the board of the Maori Television Service, or Te Puni Kokiri on its behalf, seek any advice or input from the State Services Commissioner in respect of the terms and conditions of Mr John Davy's appointment as chief executive; if so, what specific advice was received?

8. GRANT GILLON to the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Official Development Assistance): How will the newly increased overseas aid budget be allocated?

9. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Defence: On what date did he consent to the subdivision of land at Hobsonville in accordance with subdivision consent notice SPW 21142 (RMA 200001937) issued by the Waitakere City Council on 18 December 2000, and what benefits, if any, for the Defence Force did he expect to accrue from his decision?

10. TAITO PHILLIP FIELD to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What reports, if any, has he received on initiatives to assist recipients of income support to move into sustainable employment?

11. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister of Maori Affairs: Why did the board of the Maori Television Service invite proposals in February 2002 for the provision of studio facilities from the Carbine Group Limited, a company that was not incorporated until 8 March 2002?

12. JANET MACKEY to the Minister of Justice: What changes is he proposing to the rule on double jeopardy?

© Scoop Media