QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Wednesday, 7 November 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. JUDY KEALL to the Minister for Industry and Regional Development: What reports has he received on the state of New Zealand's clothing and textile industry?

2. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Corrections: Did his Associate Minister consult or advise him, the Prime Minister or the Secretary of the Cabinet that she had a conflict of interest in relation to the prisoner described as inmate A, according to the provisions of the Cabinet Office Manual; if not, why not?

3. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Agriculture: When he said, in the preface to the draft Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2001, that he was confident the codes of animal welfare "reflect the views and values held by New Zealanders with respect to the care of animals", did he believe that the confining of pregnant pigs in sow stalls where they cannot walk or turn around is acceptable to New Zealanders and reflects their views and values; if so, why?

4. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Corrections: Does he think it was appropriate for the Associate Minister of Corrections, or her office, to send an email on 18 July 2001 requesting the opportunity to look at a file of an inmate in Kaitoke prison who wanted the opportunity to "review/drop [his] charges to manslaughter"; if so, why?

5. LIZ GORDON to the Minister of Women's Affairs: What will the Government's paid parental leave scheme provide from 1 July 2002?

6. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Minister of Finance: Does he consider the $985,000 of taxpayers' money for the Tax Review 2001 to be money well spent; if so, why has the Government rejected most of the report's recommendations?

7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Health: What are the advantages for the New Zealand public health system of sending cancer patients requiring treatment to Australia for radiation therapy?

8. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Corrections: Does he think it was appropriate for the Associate Minister of Corrections, or her office, to send an email on 25 July 2001 in relation to the prisoner described as inmate J, stating "I do not want [this prisoner] shifted" and "stop his transfer"; if so, why?

9. DAVID BENSON-POPE to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What reports has he received on progress with the implementation of the Modern Apprenticeships initiative?

10. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his answer to written question No 14129 that neither he nor the Associate Minister of Corrections has ever declared a conflict of interest in relation to an individual inmate; if so, how does he reconcile this answer with the circumstances reported in the media regarding inmate A?

11. JOHN TAMIHERE to the Minister of Maori Affairs: What is the Government doing to respond to calls made at the Prime Minister's recent regional hui for increased community control of Maori development initiatives?

12. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Does she consider the actions of the Associate Minister of Corrections regarding individual inmates meet the standards she sets for her Government; if so, how?

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>