QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 17 September 2002

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Defence: Does he intend to continue to refuse comment on the activities of the New Zealand Special Air Service in Afghanistan following editorial comments in The Dominion Post today that "On such a vital subject as the role of the country's defence force, New Zealanders deserve better than the patronising message that the Government knows best. Democratic principles of freedom of information and open Government, not to mention the public, are being very poorly served."; if so, why?

2. MURRAY SMITH to the Prime Minister: Is it her Government's intention to support two inquiries by the Maori Affairs Committee into Treaty of Waitangi organisations; if not, why not?

3. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Associate Minister of Health: When will she deliver on Labour's 1999 promise to remove asset testing for elderly in long-term geriatric care?

4. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What reports, if any, has he received on participation rates in tertiary education?

5. PETER BROWN to the Minister for ACC: Does she support ACC's proposed 22 percent increase in ACC levies for motorists; if so, why?

6. Hon KEN SHIRLEY to the Prime Minister: What is her response to the former New Zealand Ambassador to the United States and Foreign Affairs secretary, Frank Corner, who has accused her of trying to re-write history?

7. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Education: What school attendance was he referring to when he stated last week, in response to a question about Bailey Junior Kurariki's lack of school attendance over the last two years, "I want to give the absolute assurance to the House that what that member said then was incorrect."?

8. DIANNE YATES to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made for the treatment of patients with serious burns?

9. RON MARK to the Minister of Justice: Are the sentences handed down to the killers of Michael Choy consistent with the Government's policy on serious violent offending; if so, why?

10. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Defence: In the light of his statement yesterday that "There is always a balance between providing as much information as possible ... and preserving a fair measure of safety and security for our personnel.", will he confirm the information provided by the commanding officer of Joint Special Operations Task Force - South, Captain Bob Harward, that around 40 New Zealand SAS personnel have been operating as part of that Task Force?

11. CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister of Agriculture: What reports, if any, has he received on the importance of agriculture to the economy?

12. JOHN KEY to the Minister of Commerce: When she said in the House last week "It is not my function to call for the Commerce Commission to undertake that inquiry" into Qantas' pricing structure, did she mean that she does not see it as her function to use all the powers available to ensure fair competition is maintained for New Zealand consumers; if not, what did she mean?

Questions to Members

1. HEATHER ROY to the Chairperson of the Health Committee: Does she intend asking for submissions as part of the Health Committee's inquiry into the proposal to establish a Trans-Tasman Agency to regulate therapeutic products?

2. Hon KEN SHIRLEY to Hon Murray McCully, member of the Maori Affairs Committee: Has he lodged a motion with the Maori Affairs Committee proposing an inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust and the Waitangi Fisheries Commission; if so, why?

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