Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 10 October 2006

Questions to Ministers

1. SHANE JONES to the Minister of Finance: What was the cost of the business tax cuts that came into effect on 1 April this year?

2. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement to the House that “I have made it clear that if spending is within Parliament’s rules, there is no reason to pay it back.”; if so, did she mean that if it is found that spending is not within Parliament’s rules there is reason to pay it back?

3. NANDOR TANCZOS to the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues: Does he stand by his statement that “There is a growing sense of urgency among governments … that action needs to be taken now” on climate change; if so, why won’t the Government consider putting in place price-based measures across the economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before 2012?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: What options has the Ministry of Justice proposed in relation to election law reform, and have these been considered by the Cabinet?

5. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has he received on the performance of New Zealand school students?

6. JOHN KEY to the Minister of Finance: Does he have confidence in the Governor of the Reserve Bank; if not, why not?

7. PITA PARAONE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What has been New Zealand’s response to reports of North Korea conducting a nuclear test?

8. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: What assurances can he give that the Government’s recently announced funding for 10,000 extra elective procedures each year will deliver that extra elective surgery, and why?

9. Dr PITA SHARPLES to the Minister of Immigration: What is his response to the statement from Sealord’s Chief Executive, Doug McKay, that the Government’s recent proposals to intervene in arrangements with foreign-chartered fishing vessels “will threaten Sealord’s viability, punish the fishing industry in general, and hurt the New Zealand economy”?

10. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Police: Can she confirm that the number of violent offences has increased by one quarter, from 40,090 to 50,644 since 2000?

11. MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Health: What work does the Government have under way to improve access to elective surgery?

12. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by his statement in the House on 20 July 2006 that “The Minister of Immigration is accountable for decisions being made when ministerial discretion is being exercised.”?

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. More