Wednesday, 19 March 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS
1. TIM BARNETT to the Minister of Justice: What plans does he have to pilot publicly provided legal aid services?
2. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Prime Minister: In light of the failure of the United Nations Security Council to resolve
the Iraq crisis, will she now review New Zealand’s foreign policy which she described yesterday “has at all times been
based on its strong support for multilateralism … and for upholding the authority of the Security Council”; if not, why
not?
3. GORDON COPELAND to the Minister of Immigration: Can overseas students work in paid employment while enrolled in a
long term course of study in New Zealand; if so, how much work are they permitted to undertake?
4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Would the New Zealand Government change its view opposing military action to
disarm Iraq in the event of Iraq using biological or chemical weapons; if not, why not?
5. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister for Food Safety: Can she confirm that 16,862 tonnes of pork, 9,204 tonnes of beef, 2,078
tonnes of lamb and 953 tonnes of mutton were imported into New Zealand in the year to December 2002; if so, is there any
requirement that any of this meat be labelled so that New Zealand consumers can know whether they are buying New Zealand
or imported meat?
6. LYNNE PILLAY to the Minister of Transport: Has he received any reports about support for the Government’s recently
announced New Zealand Transport Strategy?
7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: How many of the 2.045 million people who entered New Zealand
as visitors in the year ending December 2002 changed category after their arrival?
8. MARK PECK to the Minister of Commerce: Has she been informed of any reaction to the release of the discussion
document “Better Regulation of the Building Industry in New Zealand”, and what is the purpose of the discussion
document?
9. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Energy: Has he been informed of the comments by Tiwai Point aluminium smelter
general manager operations, Tom Campbell, regarding the current price and availability of electricity in New Zealand
where he says, “We are very concerned what this means for the winter and about the future of power supply in New
Zealand”; if so, is he also concerned?
10. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Maori Affairs: When Te Puni Kokiri granted $10,000 to Maori Sports Casting
International for a training wananga for 14 sportscasters on 6 and 7 July 2002, did it know and approve $5,400 of that
money being spent on an awards ceremony and dinner for 50 guests on 6 July; if not, why not?
11. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: Does her Ministry permit immigrants of working age to enter
New Zealand without the prospect of jobs; if so, why?
12. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Education: Why did the New Zealand Qualifications Authority advise all
principals and all heads of departments in a circular dated 7 March 2003 of a “study to evaluate the feasibility of
schools assessing some NCEA level one external standards” when the Cabinet decision on NCEA required at least 50 percent
external assessment?
ENDS