Select committee business

3 March 2000 to 10 March 2000

Committee meetings

There were two committee meetings in the parliamentary complex. Part of the Commerce Committee's meeting was held on site at the Securities Commission's offices.

Reports presented

No reports were presented this week.

Bills referred to select committees

No bills were referred.

Committee notes (for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in brackets)

Commerce (Alan Witcombe, Ainslie Rayner)

The committee met all day yesterday. The chairperson issued a press release to inform the public that a motion to remove the chairperson was lost. David Cunliffe remains as Chairperson of the Commerce Committee.

The committee proceeded to conduct the financial review of the Ministry of Commerce (now the Ministry of Economic Development.) The committee worked through each of the six votes that fund the Ministry. These are Votes Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Energy, Communications, Economic Development and Government Superannuation Fund.

The final part of the meeting consisted of a visit to the Securities Commission. The Securities Commission briefed the committee on its role, functions and powers.

Education and Science (Clare Sullivan, Malcolm McNamara)

The committee met and examined the financial reviews of the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Next week the committee will examine the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the Forest Research Institute.

Finance and Expenditure (Graham Hill, Julian Kersey)

The committee will consider the Budget Policy Statement over the next few weeks. Public submissions have been called for with a closing date of 20 March at noon.

Health (Nick Aldous, Marcus Ganley)

The committee is to meet on Wednesday, 15 March, to receive a briefing from the Ministry of Health on its recent publication, Our Health, Our Future. The briefing will commence at 10.00 am and be open to the public.

Law and Order (Tracey Conlon, Tracey Rayner)

The committee did not meet this week. It will next meet on Thursday, 16 March, to hear evidence on the 1998/99 financial review of the Serious Fraud Office. The meeting will be open to the public for the hearing of evidence, scheduled from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.

Officers of Parliament (Adrian Carpinter)

Next week the committee will visit the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. The committee will also meet to begin considering the draft budgets of the Officers of Parliament for the 2000/01 financial year and alterations to their 1999/2000 appropriations.

Regulations Review (Shelley Banks, Fiona McLean)

A booklet entitled Making a Complaint to the Regulations Review Committee was published this week. It contains information about the committee's power to investigate complaints from persons or organisations aggrieved at the operation of a regulation. The booklet also contains guidance on the correct procedure for making a complaint to the committee. For a copy of the booklet, free of charge, contact the Clerk of the Committee on (04) 471-9523 or e-mail: shelley.banks@parliament.govt.nz.

Closing dates for submissions on bills

Committees are receiving submission on the following bills with the closing date shown:

Commerce

Business Law Reform Bill (14 April 2000) Sale of Liquor Amendment (14 April 2000)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Bill (24 March 2000)

Health

Criminal Justice Amendment Bill (No.7) (17 March 2000) Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care) Bill (17 March 2000)

Justice and Electoral

Referenda (Postal Voting) Bill (14 April 2000)

Maori Affairs

Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill (28 April 2000)

Social Services

Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No. 6) (20 April 2000)

Transport and Industrial Relations

Airport Authorities Amendment Bill (No. 2) (5 April 2000)

General

You can find further information about select committees on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. If you require additional information or have any feedback on the contents, please contact:

Carol Rankin

Senior Parliamentary Officer at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 10 March 2000

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