Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

13 June 2007

Minister admits blocking public information

National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says the Social Development Minister has been forced into an embarrassing admission that he has been deliberately blocking the flow of public information.

"David Benson-Pope has been deliberately delaying the release of public information, properly requested by the Opposition doing its job."

Ms Collins says that at today's Social Services Select Committee, Mr Benson-Pope admitted that although his department was answering requests for information on time, it was his decision to delay the public release of the material.

"I have had a long running problem with this Minister. There are countless parliamentary questions in recent months which have either not been answered, have been only partially answered, or the replies come well after the stated deadline."

In one case, after waiting nearly seven weeks for answers to several questions that should have been dealt with in six days, National received the blanket response: 'I will provide an answer to this question shortly'.

"I also note that Mr Benson-Pope often touches on some of the issues I raise in my parliamentary questions before he has released the answers to me.

"Coincidence? I think not! Far from being clever, what he's doing is reactionary and cynical. It's as far as you can get from Helen Clark's promise of transparency and accountability.

"Fair-minded New Zealanders will work out what's going on here. Labour is trying to shut down debate, and Leader of the House Michael Cullen must know that's what's going on, because I have raised it with him a number of times.

"They need to stop treating the public like mugs," says Ms Collins.

ENDS

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