Tuesday, 18 February 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: In light of the weekend protests by thousands of New Zealanders against the “war talk” of President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, will New Zealand’s United Nations ambassador tell the United Nations tomorrow that New Zealand believes there is no case for war and that the United Nations should not endorse one; if not, why not?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: In light of her reported comments that “the chances of a war with Iraq had risen to well above 70 percent”, has her Government received any reports assessing the risks to New Zealand Defence Forces deployed to the Gulf?

3. JILL PETTIS to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What progress has the Government made in extending opportunities for learning in the workplace?

4. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Education: Has he received any reports on the recent study by Child Poverty Action Group “The irony of NCEA: How Compulsory Exam Fees Prevent the Achievement of Students from Poor Families”?

5. PAUL ADAMS to the Minister of Justice: Is he satisfied that enough is being done to curb the kind of under-age drinking that appeared to be a significant factor in the tragic events at Whangarei over the weekend?

6. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Does she still stand by her reported comments that the Sovereign Yachts project is like a dream come true and that the country needs more similar quality investment in leading edge ideas, following today’s reports that the firm is laying off workers; if so, why?

7. TIM BARNETT to the Minister of Education: What reports has he received on the development of immersion early childhood education?

8. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by the statement on his behalf to the House on 28 March 2002 that his “triumph for the jobs machine” Sovereign Yachts project at Hobsonville “is a real success story, which is only beginning to unfold”; if so, how exactly has the Sovereign yachts project been a “triumph for the jobs machine” and a “success story, which is only beginning to unfold”?

9. Hon MATT ROBSON to the Minister for Industry and Regional Development: Has he seen any practical examples of the Government’s growth and innovation strategy at work; if so, can he provide details of these?

10. Dr DON BRASH to the Minister of Finance: Will the Government consider changes to its economic policy following a survey published today which shows most New Zealanders lack confidence that it has a credible strategy to return New Zealand to the top half of the OECD; if not, why not?

11. DARREN HUGHES to the Minister of Commerce: What recent decisions has the Government made in relation to insolvency law?

12. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: When was she informed that Capital and Coast District Health Board underspent $1.7 million on cardiac surgery in the 2001/02 year, and how many of the eight patients who have died in the last three years could have been saved by having their surgery in a private hospital?

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