Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 3 April 2008

Questions to Ministers

1. H V ROSS ROBERTSON to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology: What reports has he received on improvements for telecommunications in New Zealand?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: Is it the Government’s policy that if the Electoral Commission believes an offence has been committed under the Electoral Finance Act 2007 it must report this to the police, unless the Commission believes the offence is so inconsequential that there is no public interest in doing so?

3. Dr PITA SHARPLES to the Minister for the Environment: What are the “national significance” factors that prompted him to call in the application filed by
Unison Networks Limited to establish a wind farm near the Te Waka Range in Hawke’s Bay?

4. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Revenue: Does he stand by his statement that “The idea behind the changes is to have tax penalties that reflect the seriousness of the offence, since people comply with the law more willingly when they see it as reasonable”; if not, why not?

5. R DOUG WOOLERTON to the Minister of Finance: What is the current value of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and how much of the fund is currently invested in New Zealand?

6. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: Does she stand by her statement, in relation to whether particular material constitutes election advertising, that “It is the Electoral Commissioners’ view that counts”?

7. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Health: How many adverse reactions to medicines were reported last year in primary and hospital healthcare, and how many to dietary supplements and natural remedies?

8. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Housing: How does she reconcile the definition of “affordable housing” in the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill as being “affordable to low and moderate income earners”, with the Hobsonville development’s 500 “affordable homes” that Housing New Zealand Corporation says will “cost approximately $350,000 and be targeted at households earning about $70,000 per year”?

9. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER to the Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector: How will the tax changes introduced on 1 April 2008 support the community and voluntary sector?

10. Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does she have confidence in the Ministry for Culture and Heritage?

11. SU'A WILLIAM SIO to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs: Has she received any reports on how Pacific Island people in New Zealand are benefiting from the policies taking effect from 1 April 2008?

12. JUDITH COLLINS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is she satisfied that all commercial contracts awarded by the Ministry of Social Development provide good value for money?

ENDS

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