Thursday, 27 February 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. Dr MURIEL NEWMAN to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What is the proper process by which Ministers with innovative ideas on welfare reform present them to Cabinet for consideration, and has he received any Cabinet reports prepared by Hon John Tamihere challenging the Government welfare monopoly and calling on the Government to unleash Maori communities from state dependency by allowing “communities to take back their ability to be responsible for themselves, to manage themselves, and to grow a work ethic, commitment, and responsibility, themselves”?

2. LARRY BALDOCK to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by his comments reported in the Dominion Post on 21 February 2003, that “The [Prostitution Reform] Bill is laissez faire at the moment; it provides for no controls … The police will tell you that gangs are involved in a big way and providing prostitution alongside other criminal activities they are involved in. I think it would be unconscionable not to give the police the power in the prostitution business to exclude those people who are patently unsuitable to be involved in it.”; if so, has he discussed these concerns with the Minister of Police?

3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Further to her response yesterday that the goal of being back in the top half of the developed world in terms of per capita GDP by 2011 is not a short-term goal, what is her Government’s timeframe for achieving that objective?

4. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister of Housing: What is the Government doing to protect the tenure of Auckland City Council housing tenants?

5. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister for Trade Negotiations : Has he been advised of any expressions of concern by local government about current negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services; if so, what steps is he taking to ensure the Government listens to Christchurch City Council’s request that no commitments are made in environmental services?

6. RON MARK to the Minister of Transport: What has he done with respect to tougher laws for foreign drivers and why?

7. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs: In light of his comments yesterday regarding his speech circulated to the Knowledge Wave conference, “I stand by everything I said”, what specific recommendations will he be making to achieve the “number of policy shifts” required to promote Maori economic development?

8. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What assistance is New Zealand giving to its Pacific Island neighbours to meet international counter-terrorism standards?

9. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Housing: Why are families in Nelson living in tents, caravans and garages when Housing New Zealand homes have been empty for 12 months?

10. DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister of Local Government: What reports has he received of feedback on the consultation procedures in the new Local Government Act 2002?

11. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Why have district health boards recorded a combined deficit of $64 million in the last three months, up $17.2 million from the quarter before and is this causing cuts to patient care?

12. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Education: Has he received any reports that there has been an upsurge in students providing false or temporary addresses in order to gain enrolment at a school of their choice?

© Scoop Media