Questions For Oral Answers - Wednesday, 20 June 07

Questions For Oral Answers - Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Questions to Ministers

1. Dr PITA SHARPLES to the Minister of Māori Affairs: He aha tona whakautu ki te reta a Tiati Carrie Wainwright i ki ra “ko te mutunga mai o te he, nga mahi kua kitea e te Taraipiunara”, ara, “i te ahua o nga whakariterite i waenganui i te Tari Whakatau Take e pa ana ki te Tiriti o Waitangi me Ngati Whatua ki Orakei, a, ko te mutunga e he ke atu ana, nga mahi me nga kaupapa here a te karauna mo te hatepe me te putanga”?

Translation: How does he respond to the letter he received from Judge Carrie Wainwright, that in the process followed by the Office of Treaty Settlements with Ngati Whatua o Orakei, a process “more flawed than any the Tribunal has inquired into”, that “the Crown’s policy and practice has been unfair, both as to process and outcome”?

2. JOHN KEY to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement that “20 hours free means the regulated standard is free”; if so, how many early childhood education services will be able to offer “20 hours free” without also charging parents extra top-up fees, donations or surcharges?

3. MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Commerce: What were the principal objectives of the Review of Financial Products, Providers and Intermediaries, and how have those objectives been achieved?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Finance: What effect would ring-fencing any losses from investment in housing have on house prices and rents?

5. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues: What recent reports, if any, has he received on New Zealand’s role in international negotiations for much needed agreement on climate change post-2012?

6. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister of Education: What advice has his Ministry given early childhood centres regarding the setting of optional charges, and what are the appropriate steps for a centre to take in the event that parents refuse to pay any optional charges under the Government’s 20 free hours policy?

7. DAVE HEREORA to the Associate Minister Health: Has he received any recent reports on the number of Maori enrolled in Primary Health Organisations?

8. JUDITH COLLINS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does he agree with the statements of his predecessor, Hon Steve Maharey, that the Household Labour Force Survey is “the only credible and consistent measure of unemployment”, the “best way of measuring New Zealand’s performance internationally” and “the only accepted measure of unemployment”?

9. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Education: For how many half days will primary schools be required to be open for instruction in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010?

10. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Housing: When does he anticipate the nationwide roll-out of the home equity scheme, which is to be preceded by a “targeted pilot” to be “considered for next year’s budget”, and how many New Zealanders does he expect will eventually be able to take advantage of the national scheme?

11. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Will he call for a full public inquiry into the relationship between loan sharks and gambling in New Zealand; if not, why not?

12. Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN to the Minister of Health: Why has Pharmac replaced Ritalin SR with Rubifen SR as the subsidised medication for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

ENDS