Questions for Oral Answer - Thursday, 8 December 2005

Questions to Ministers

1. RON MARK to the Minister of Police: What assurances can she give that the New Zealand Police are to be adequately resourced to cope with existing and future demands?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Education: Does he agree with the statement made yesterday by the Secretary for Education, Howard Fancy, that there had been "a move away from standards-based" assessment; if not, why not?

3. JILL PETTIS to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What progress is the Government making towards addressing skill shortages through the Modern Apprenticeships scheme?

4. JOHN KEY to the Minister of Finance: Is he concerned that the Reserve Bank Governor has this morning raised the Official Cash Rate to its highest-ever level of 7.25 percent, thereby leading to higher interest rates?

5. HONE HARAWIRA to the Minister of Corrections: He aha te take i kore ai tana tari i whakautu i te tono a Ngati Hine ma Ngati Hine ake e hapai nga kaupapa Maori mo nga mauhere o Te Tai Tokerau i runga i te ahua, neke atu i te iwa tekau paiheneti o nga mauhere, kei roto whareherehere i Ngawha he uri no Te Tai Tokerau, a, i runga hoki i te ahua o nga korero a Te Tari Mauhere ka pumau ratou ki nga kaupapa a-iwi Maori?
Translation: Why did his department not take up the proposal from Ngati Hine to provide a comprehensive habilitation service, which was specifically designed to be culturally appropriate to inmates from Tai Tokerau, given that over 90 percent of the inmates of the Ngawha Prison are of Tai Tokerau descent, and the department's commitment to culturally appropriate practices?

6. SIMON POWER to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does he stand by his statement to the House yesterday, in relation to his authorisation of leaking of his police file, "I gave no instruction, other than being completely honest with the media, to my press secretary"; if not, why not?

7. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Finance: What advice will the Government, as majority shareholder in Air New Zealand, seek on proposals from the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union regarding Air New Zealand's engineering capacity, which are due to be presented today?

8. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for Land Information: Does Land Information New Zealand stand by its evidence to the Local Government and Environment Committee that its Chief Surveyors concluded that the estuary at Wakapuaka was not included in the title to the adjoining block, and that the Maori Land Court vesting order could not be registered under the Land Transfer Act 1952?

9. DAVE HEREORA to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology: What has the Government done to support the development of the biotechnology sector?

10. Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister of Education: Has he been advised of reports that the kindergarten sector is in upheaval, with compulsory fees replacing donations and teachers taking their first industrial action in nearly a decade; if so, does he think that his Government's policies have contributed to this situation?

11. Hon MARK GOSCHE to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: What changes have been made in Government support for elite athletes?

12. ERIC ROY to the Minister for Biosecurity: Is he satisfied that Biosecurity New Zealand is taking all appropriate steps to prevent the spread of didymo; if not, why not?

ENDS

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