Paraphrased answers to today's questions will be posted in the Scoops wire shortly after 3pm.
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Tuesday, 21 November 2000
Questions to Ministers
1. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Prime Minister: Have new directions been given to the officials implementing the Closing
the Gaps programme as a result of her announcement on 23 October that the Government was broadening the policy to focus
"on lower decile needs across the board"; if so, when?
2. JOHN WRIGHT to the Minister for Economic Development: Has he received any recent reports on economic or regional
development; if so, what do those reports say?
3. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Defence: Following the comments of Admiral Dennis Blair that New Zealand's defence
should be focusing on high-technology equipment, will the Government guarantee today that it will retain the Orion
aircraft?
4. TAITO PHILLIP FIELD to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What reports has he received on the
effectiveness of the Community Work Scheme?
5. Hon MAX BRADFORD to the Minister of Labour: What steps, if any, has she or the Mediation Service taken to resolve
the industrial action by the Waterfront Workers Union on the Bluff and Otago ports?
6. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What response has he had to yesterday's announcement that the Government
will inject approximately $5 million into schools with substandard gymnasia?
7. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his assurance to the House last Thursday that "The
position of the parole office in Kaikohe is under control. It is being managed by the responsible officials."; if so,
how does he reconcile this with today's New Zealand Herald report that staff were at breaking point and in a mess
physically, and that the lack of supervision of offenders could result in someone being seriously injured or worse?
8. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What is the reaction of the New Zealand Government to
the Fiji High Court decision that the Chaudhry Government be reinstated?
9. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Minister of Maori Affairs: Has he been informed of the Audit Office advice to the Maori
Affairs Committee in relation to the Closing the Gaps strategy that: "There are a number of areas where there are no
planned steps to obtain evidence of effectiveness of the ministry's expenditure on achieving desired outcomes."; if so,
does he intend to take steps to rectify the situation?
10. JUDY KEALL to the Minister of Health: What reports has she received on shortages of radiotherapy staff in New
Zealand?
11. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Education: Has the new National Certificate of Educational Achievement changed
from that initiated by the previous Government under which students would receive percentage marks?
12. HARRY DUYNHOVEN to the Minister of Transport: What are the major benefits New Zealand can expect as a result of the
signing of the memorandum of understanding with Australia on the open skies agreement?
ENDS