QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Thursday, 25 May 2000

Questions to Ministers

1. Tony Steel to the Minister of Corrections: How is his policy to allow conjugal visits to prisoners consistent with the 91.8% "Yes" vote in the referendum resulting from Mr Norm Withers' petition?

2. Chris Carter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What assessment has he received of the current situation in Fiji given the events of the last 24 hours?

3. Hon. Richard Prebble to the Minister of Corrections: Given his reported statement on allowing sexual relationships for prisoners that "some of them might just want to have a cuddle and a glass of milk", can the House take it that cuddles, milk and sex are to be part of New Zealand's prison policy; if so, what happened to punishment for crime?

4. Ron Mark to the Minister of Police: How will front-line police enter and access information currently provided only via INCIS once the mainframe has been sold, and on which computer will that information then be entered and stored?

5. Hon. Tony Ryall to the Minister of Justice: Does he plan amendments to the Victims' Rights Bill to ensure that, before prison inmates receive conjugal visits or entitlements to their children being in prison with them, their victims are consulted first?

6. Steve Chadwick to the Minister of Tourism: What reports has he received on the outlook for tourism in New Zealand?

7. Hon. Max Bradford to the Minister of Labour: What did she mean in Cabinet paper (00)10, when talking about independent contractors, that "... I propose that the legislation allows for the broadening of the current catchment of 'employees' by a targeted statutory provision so that employment institutions can gradually shift the boundaries between who is covered by employment law and who is not. This approach would allow particular groups to be targeted.", and if this is still Government policy how will she carry out her statement to Alliance, Green, and New Zealand First members that "No one will be required to change their employment status unless they want to."?

8. Nandor Tanczos to the Minister of Corrections: Has the Government stopped funding and tutor support for inmates aged 19 and over wishing to study anything other than the National Certificate in Employment Skills; if so, why?

9. Hon. Bill English to the Treasurer: What examples can he give of the "endless stream of what I will call Armageddon economic analysis", referred to in his speech to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce?

10. Grant Gillon to the Minister of Consumer Affairs: What consumer protection issues were raised during her recent trip to Australia to deliver the keynote address at the First International Gambling Impact Conference?

11. Dr Wayne Mapp to the Minister of Defence: Has the Government abandoned its commitment to a comprehensive defence review and does it now plan to only have a defence policy statement; if so, why?

12. Jill Pettis to the Minister of Housing: How will the Government's income-related rents policy contribute to closing the social and economic gaps within New Zealand?

Thursday, 25 May 2000

Questions to Members

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1. Hon. Max Bradford to the Chairperson of the Employment and Accident Insurance Legislation Committee: Does the chairperson intend to request the Minister of Labour to appear before the committee, as the Minister indicated she would have no objection to doing so in the House on Tuesday 23 May?

ENDS

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