Busy Day Ahead For MPs

A busy day is ahead for MPs with the first extended hours sitting of this Parliament, a ministerial statement on possible intervention in the Middle East and a Members Day.

The House will set from 9am this morning to consider a number of bills under extended hours provisions.

This will cover the first readings the Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Bill, Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill, and the Hawke's Bay Regional Planning Committee Bill.

After the completion of this business, the House will adjourn until 2pm for Question Time.

Prime Minister John Key has indicated he wishes to make a Ministerial Statement on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and New Zealand’s potential involvement. This will probably take place after Question Time with a number of speeches in response. This will then be followed by the General Debate.

After this MPs will turn to Member’s bills and return to the committee stage of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months' Paid Leave) Amendment Bill which does not have the support of National and ACT. This means unlike in the previous Parliament it no longer has the numbers to make progress. The Bill’s promoter Sue Moroney has proposed a different version with a more narrow focus in an attempt to win support.

This will be followed by the second readings of the Sentencing (Protection of Children from Criminal Offending) Amendment Bill, Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill and the Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill.

If the pace of progress is very fast it is possible MPs will being debate on the first reading of the Education (Food in Schools) Amendment Bill. The bill once in the name of former Mana MP Hone Harawira is now sponsored by Metiria Turei. It does not appear to have the support of a majority in the House to be sent to select committee.

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