Questions to Ministers

1. JOHN KEY to the Prime Minister: Does she agree with the Minister of Finance that “tax cuts are not self-funding. If unaccompanied by expenditure cuts they simply lead to burgeoning deficits and debt”; if not, why not?

2. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: What progress has been made in resolving historic treaty claims in the Central North Island?

3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: Is it Government policy that individuals involved in the administration of a political party cannot register as a third party under the Electoral Finance Act 2007, but bodies involved in the administration of a political party can; if so, why?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: Is it Government policy that Parliamentary Service-funded materials, similar to the 2005 pledge card produced by the Labour Leader’s office, should not count towards a party’s election expenses; if so, why?

5. SUE BRADFORD to the Prime Minister: Is she concerned that the preferential trade deal with China risks New Zealand becoming little else but a producer of raw primary products again; if not, why not?

6. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Energy: Does he stand by his statement made when launching the New Zealand Energy Strategy on 11 October last year that “The government does not believe it is in the interests of the country for the SOEs to build any more base-load thermal generation.”?

7. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister of Trade: What are the benefits to New Zealand of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement?

8. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: Is food a “risk factor” for non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, which could be restricted by regulations made under clause 374(x) of the Public Health Bill?

9. Hon MARK GOSCHE to the Minister of Labour: What changes to the minimum wage took effect on 1 April 2008?

10. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Energy: Does he believe New Zealanders may have to accept initial volumes of biofuels from unsustainable sources, as reported in the New Zealand Herald on 3 April 2008 under the headline “Parker pushes biofuel agenda”?

11. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Associate Minister of Immigration: Does he have confidence in the Government’s refugee determination processes, and whether the answer be positive or negative, why?

12. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Housing: Does Housing New Zealand Corporation keep accurate referral records sufficient to allow her to categorically rule out Corporation referrals to the “squalid” Kotoku (Kiwiana) and Abiru boarding houses in Mangere; if not, why not?

Questions to Members

1. Hon DAVID CARTER to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: How much notice was given to submitters on the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill that they were scheduled to appear before the committee in Christchurch on Monday, 7 April 2008?

ENDS

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