QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Tuesday, 31 July 2001
Questions to Ministers
1. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister for the Environment: What action is the Government taking in response to the
recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification?
2. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for the Environment: Will the Government extend the moratorium on field trials of
genetically modified organisms beyond 31 August 2001; if so, how?
3. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister for the Environment: Does she stand by her statement regarding genetic
engineering that "we don't want any risks to the environment and we don't want any risks to human safety. So you set up
conditions not so much to minimise, but to prevent [risk]."?
4. PANSY WONG to the Minister of Energy: Does he stand by his reported statements last week that New Zealand is not
facing an electricity crisis and that claims of a crisis were too strong?
5. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: Has he received any further suggestions on the future of superannuation policy?
6. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Finance: Given the Deputy Prime Minister's reported comments yesterday in relation to
the suggestion that Government officials may be involved in undermining the bank that "I will certainly be asking
questions", is he aware of any members of the Deputy Prime Minister's office undermining the People's Bank?
7. PHILLIDA BUNKLE to the Minister of Conservation: What were the key outcomes of the recent meeting of the
International Whaling Commission she attended?
8. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: If the purpose of the Tax and charities document is to find out "people's
views on a 400 year definition" of "charitable purpose", as she told the House last week, what aspects of the definition
of "charitable purpose" does her Government believe could be out of date?
9. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: Does he view league tables as the optimum way of comparing student
performance across New Zealand; if not, why not?
10. Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): Are media reports accurate that
the Government is standing firm behind its offer to tertiary institutions of a 2.6% funding increase for next year in
return for a freeze on fees and that extra funding for centres of research excellence is conditional on acceptance of
the offer?
11. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What reports has he received on the
relationship between teenage birth rates and the domestic purposes benefit?
12. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: In light of the finding of an independent study that Lakes District
Health Board is underfunded by around $6 million, will she immediately provide the board with increased funding; if not,
why not?