Todays questions for oral answer by Ministers. Paraphrased answers will be posted in the Headlines wire shortly after questions are completed at 3pm.

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Tuesday, 29 February 2000

1. Rt Hon. Jenny Shipley to the Prime Minister: On what advice, and by what decision-making process, did she base her reported comments in the Sunday Star Times, in which she said of the New Zealand-Australia defence relationship, "We're not a single strategic entity."?

2. Janet Mackey to the Minister of Justice: What safeguards currently exist to protect witnesses from intimidation in criminal trials?

3. Rt Hon. Wyatt Creech to the Prime Minister: What reports and advice did she rely upon when she made the statement that the TVNZ board enticed John Hawkesby from TV3 in a "set up" and that "the deal with Mr Hawkesby was conducted in secret prior to his deal with TV3" ending?

4. Donna Awatere Huata to the Minister of State Services: How does he intend to ensure that performance pay incentives to senior State servants will result in better services to Maori?

5. Rt Hon. Wyatt Creech to the Minister of Health: Why is the Government progressing with its plans when advice from Te Puni Kokiri is that "the establishment of District Health Boards may interfere with the significant advancements made over the past ten years in terms of Maori representation ..."?

6. Sue Kedgley to the Minister of Broadcasting: Is she concerned that TV2, the channel which the Prime Minister is reported as saying is a cash cow, is the channel that many children and young people watch and has only 15 percent New Zealand content; if so, how does she intend to ensure that there will be high quality New Zealand programmes available on all free-to-air channels for our children to view?

7. Gerry Brownlee to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What reports has he received as Associate Education Minister on the effects on tertiary education institutions of returning accident insurance to a single state-funded monopoly scheme?

8. Nanaia Mahuta to the Minister of Education: What commitment has he made to enhance environmental awareness and scientific understanding in schools?

9. Dr Muriel Newman to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What specifically was the reason for his u-turn on Christine Rankin, chief executive of Work and Income New Zealand, who, after a one hour meeting he described as an impressive and dedicated public servant, when before the election he was scathing in his many personal attacks?

10. Mita Ririnui to the Minister of Mâori Affairs: What priority does he give to closing the gaps between Maori and non-Maori?

11. Hon. Georgina te Heuheu to the Prime Minister: What did she mean by her comments reportedly signalling the Government is "moving toward self-determination-style Maori development policies", and how is this a "fundamental change in direction"?

12. Taito Phillip Field to the Associate Minister of Social Services and Employment (Employment): What was the outcome of the meeting last Thursday between Government officials and benefit advocacy groups?

ENDS

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