Questions For Oral Answer
Thursday 11 October 2001
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS
1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Did she receive a letter from the Acting Chairman of Air New Zealand,
Dr Jim Farmer, dated 3 August in which he expressed concern that the Government had “embarked on a high-risk and
speculative course that had the danger of putting the Air New Zealand group at risk”, and warned that he would be
failing in his duty if he did not bring to the Government’s attention “the seriousness of this situation and the grave
financial risk faced by Air New Zealand Limited as a result of the current uncertainties”; if so, what actions did she
or her Ministers take as a result of this warning?
2. H V ROSS ROBERTSON to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What initiatives has the
Government undertaken to assist institutions to adapt to a changing tertiary education environment?
3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Did she or any of her Ministers receive a letter approximately ten
days after the letter of 3 August, signed by each of the directors of Air New Zealand, urging the Government “to accept
that, while Air New Zealand will work constructively and expeditiously with your newly introduced process, Government
must also do its part by placing a realistic limit on the duration of this process”; if so, what action did she or her
Ministers take?
4. WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Industry and Regional Development: What is the Government doing to support
the development of the fashion, textiles, clothing and footwear industries?
5. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Education: Does he see any irony in the fact that his Government today is
reliant on non-union labour to keep secondary schools open, and when will he ensure that secondary schools return full
attention to students?
6. SUE BRADFORD to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What action is she taking on the
expert report and recommendations for the reform of the Author Fund which were delivered to the Government over 10
months ago?
7. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: Are media reports correct that thousands of Wellingtonians may not
get x-rays and scans if the Capital and Coast Health radiology service reduces its volumes by as much as 30 percent, as
proposed by the hospital and health service general manager; if not, why not?
8. RON MARK to the Minister of Defence: What role did the Chief of Air Staff take in the redundancy or discharge
notices given on Monday to the first of this year’s 350 air force personnel expected to lose their jobs?
9. ALEC NEILL to the Minister of Communications: Has he received any reports from the Ministry of Economic
Development opposing the regulation of mandatory cellular roaming and co-location of cellular equipment; if so, why has
he chosen not to accept that advice?
10. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister of Health: What steps have been taken to upgrade equipment used for the
treatment of cancer?
11. GERRARD ECKHOFF to the Minister of Broadcasting: What are her top four achievements as Minister, in order of
importance?
12. JUDY KEALL to the Minister of Housing: What progress has the Government made with the availability of
community housing for residents of the Kimberley Centre and Braemar Hospital?
ENDS