Wednesday, 05 March 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: What specific directions, if any, has she given to Ministers regarding the Government’s vision of being “in the top half of the OECD” in 10 years, as set out in the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament in February 2001; and when were these directions given?

2. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER to the Minister of Justice: Does he intend to increase penalties for the possession and supply of child pornography?

3. Dr DON BRASH to the Minister of Finance: Does he accept that Statistics New Zealand data shows the real disposable incomes of the poorest 20 percent of New Zealand households increased over the 1990s, despite the cuts to welfare benefits in 1991; if so, does he agree that the Statistics New Zealand data contradicts comments made by the Prime Minister that the reforms of the 1990s left “the poorest New Zealanders an estimated twenty to twenty five per cent worse off”?

4. JILL PETTIS to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has he received on New Zealand’s performance on international literacy standards?

5. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Maori Affairs: When he told the House yesterday that he was generally satisfied with Te Mangai Paho’s distribution and administration of funds, did this include the $534,964 payments over three years to Maori Sports Casting International that saw approximately $7,000 in travel, meal and accommodation expenses returned to the Te Mangai Paho employee responsible for their radio and music portfolio for his co-commentary of games such as the Wallabies versus All Blacks in Sydney on 1 September 2001; if not, what has he done about it?

6. GORDON COPELAND to the Minister of Finance: Following the release of the latest ANZBusiness NZ Performance of Manufacturing Index that shows expansion of manufacturing has slowed for two consecutive months, does he agree the rapidly appreciating New Zealand dollar is having a serious adverse effect on the manufacturing sector; if not, why not?

7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: What is the number of non-New Zealand born permanent residents or citizens who left New Zealand to live permanently in Australia in the 12 months since the Social Security Agreement with Australia in February 2001, and how does this number compare with the number of non-New Zealand born permanent residents or citizens who left New Zealand to live permanently in Australia in the 12 months prior to the Social Security Agreement?

8. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister for Food Safety: Why did New Zealand fund an international meeting on meat hygiene in Wellington from 17 to 21 February 2003?

9. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Fisheries: Is it fair for his Ministry to threaten Waikare Inlet oyster farmers with lease forfeiture saying “if they are serious about farming … they need to fix things up and get on with it” when the possible pollution sources in the Inlet still exist and are outside the farmers’ control?

10. PITA PARAONE to the Minister of Health: Is she satisfied that district health boards are using their funding to meet the maximum benefits of community health needs?

11. IAN EWEN-STREET to the Minister of Forestry: Does he support efforts within New Zealand to develop a Forest Stewardship Council-based national standard for the certification of plantation forests?

12. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Energy: Does he agree with Heather Staley, Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, that direct use of gas reticulated to households is “three times more efficient than burning it to produce electricity”; if so, why?

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