Guests at the Government's Auckland Business Forum, hosted by legal firm Buddle Findlay, should expect caviar and champagne - if the Government is consistent in its largesse, National's Finance Spokesman Bill English said today.

Freshly released answers to Parliamentary Questions indicate the Buddle Findlay law firm has picked up at least a million dollars in Government contracts since Labour came to office nine months ago.

"With most Ministers having responded the total stands at $933,887," Mr English says.

"We're still awaiting answers from the Ministers of Industry Development, Maori Affairs, the Public Trust, Internal Affairs and from the Prime Minister. In addition Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the firm has been employed on more than two dozen education matters but refuses to divulge the cost. Mr Mallard should be upfront about the size of his bill.

"So it's safe to say Buddle Findlay have picked up a million dollars plus in business from the Government in its first nine months. Little wonder the law firm is happy to host the Government's business function on October 17th. With that sort of money flowing in the lawyers themselves ought be running round with trays of canapes and making sure no one's glass is empty," Bill English says.

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