1. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister of Education: What is the Government doing to lift numeracy standards?

2. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Immigration: Did his department grant work or residence permits, following immigration assistance from Taito Phillip Field, to any of the eight Thai immigrants, or their partners, who allegedly attended a meeting with Taito Phillip Field on 2 October 2005 shortly after the launch of the Ingram Inquiry?

3. METIRIA TUREI to the Minister of Fisheries: Is he satisfied that sufficient progress is being made to decrease non-fish by-catch in New Zealand waters?

4. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Immigration: On what basis did he advise the House last Wednesday that once the Associate Minister realised that Mr Sunan Siriwan was working without pay on Taito Phillip Field's house in Samoa, he "acted to reverse his decision" to issue a Ministerial direction for a work visa for Mr Siriwan?

5. JILL PETTIS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What steps is the Government taking to utilise Enhanced Taskforce Green to assist farmers affected by recent adverse weather?

6. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Labour: Will her department interview Taito Phillip Field to determine whether or not the painters at 51 Church Street were engaged as employees, and covered by minimum wage legislation; if not, why not?

7. PETER BROWN to the Minister of Immigration: How long has the Immigration Profiling Group he described last night on One News been in existence and how many decisions to allow people into New Zealand from high risk countries are yet to be re-examined by the Group?

8. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Immigration: What steps, if any, are being taken or will be taken to check the integrity of the representations made by Taito Phillip Field in relation to the 262 successful appeals to the Associate Minister on the basis of those representations?

9. TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does she recall her address to the Hui Taumata in 2005, when she said, "As Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, I would like to acknowledge the role of Maori in reflecting the essence of who we are, where we have come from and what we can aspire to be. Maori are at the cutting edge of our success throughout the arts, culture, and heritage sector, and have helped to raise the profile of our nation to new heights"; if so, what initiatives are there in Budget 2006 to specifically support Maori in the arts, culture and heritage sector?

10. Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN to the Minister of Health: What steps, if any, is the Government taking to improve the mental health of New Zealanders?

11. MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Commerce: What reports, if any, has she received on the rules governing mergers that relate to trans-Tasman businesses?

12. Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister of Maori Affairs: What advice, if any, has he received from his Ministry on the effect of removing reference to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the draft New Zealand school curriculum?

Questions to Members

1. PAULA BENNETT to the Dr Wayne Mapp (Member in charge of the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill: Who is the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill intended to help?

2. CHRIS TREMAIN to the Dr Wayne Mapp (Member in charge of the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill: How does the probationary employment period established in the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill compare with the view of the Small Business Advisory Group on the importance of probationary employment periods?

3. NATHAN GUY to the Dr Wayne Mapp (Member in charge of the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill: How does the Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill compare to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries' practice of probationary employment periods?

4. Dr JACKIE BLUE to the Chairperson of the Health Committee: How many submissions have been received on the Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill?

5. CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON to the Chairperson of the Justice and Electoral Committee: What further evidence, if any, has she requested before the committee can conclude its Inquiry into the 2005 General Election?

ENDS

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