Questions for Oral Answer - Thursday, 14 April 2005 Questions to Ministers

1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Why did she say in the House on 30 March 2005 in response to my questions about New Zealand's growing net debtor position, rising current account deficit, and the continuing sales of New Zealand assets to foreign buyers, "It is the same economy with the same current account deficit as was recorded when that member was the Treasurer in September 1997.", and "I do note that the highest-ever number of net land sales by hectare occurred when Mr Peters was in charge of the overseas investment legislation."?

2. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister of Energy: Does he expect that the Electricity Commission's "thorough investigation of alternatives" to Transpower's proposed 400kV transmission line between Whakamaru and Otahuhu will include the investigation of alternative fuels to reduce the need for electricity at peak hour in Auckland; if not, why not?

3. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Prime Minister: Does her Government believe that John Tamihere should issue a public retraction in the interests of all New Zealanders?

4. LYNNE PILLAY to the Minister of Education: What reports, if any, has he received on possible changes to education funding?

5. DEBORAH CODDINGTON to the Minister of Women's Affairs: How much is spent annually on women's affairs and what is achieved by this?

6. MURRAY SMITH to the Minister of Justice: Is he satisfied that the justice system allows for all relevant facts to be considered when a case is brought before the courts?

7. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Education: Can he confirm that between the 1999/2000 Budget and the 2004/2005 Budget spending in Vote Education on administration of education regulations has nearly quadrupled, spending on policy advice has increased by 63 percent, and spending on administration of education sector resourcing has doubled?

8. METIRIA TUREI to the Associate Minister of Education: Is he confident that the Government is fulfilling its obligation under the Education Act 1989 that every child is entitled to free enrolment and free education at any State school; if so, why?

9. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Has she received a copy of the report by former army engineer, George Butcher; if so, does she have any concerns with its findings?

10. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister of Justice: What increase, if any, has there been in the number of alleged offenders remanded in custody since the passage of the Bail Act 2000?

11. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Associate Minister of Labour: What will the Government do to prevent an influx of court cases as a result of the new stress provisions in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, as feared by Phil O'Reilly, Chief Executive of Business New Zealand?

12. LESLEY SOPER to the Associate Minister of Education: What reports, if any, has he received on attitudes to national testing of primary school children?

ENDS

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