Thursday, 27 March 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister of Housing: What commitment does the Government have towards housing older people?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: In light of her reported comments earlier this week that New Zealand wanted the United Nations actively involved in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Iraq, does she now support the United Nations’ view that the United States and its coalition partners are legally responsible for providing humanitarian aid to Iraqis; if so, why?

3. DAVE HEREORA to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: Is the Government supporting an expedition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Everest; if so, how?

4. METIRIA TUREI to the Minister of Maori Affairs: What steps is he taking to protect the interests of Maori in the current General Agreement on Trade in Services negotiations and will he ensure that te Tiriti o Waitangi is included in New Zealand’s General Agreement on Trade in Services Schedule of Specific Commitments?

5. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Defence: Why did the Government commission a review of the structure of the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force by Don Hunn, at a cost of $150,000 to $170,000, and then reject its major recommendations?

6. RON MARK to the Minister of Police: Is he committed to ensuring all New Zealanders can go about their business without undue fear of crime?

7. Hon KEN SHIRLEY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Is the New Zealand Government presenting a statement today to a United Nations forum commenting on the war in Iraq; if so, is that statement to be either explicitly or implicitly critical of the actions being taken by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and their allies?

8. DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Conservation: What recent initiatives has the Government taken to deliver on the biodiversity strategy goal to secure the protection of a full range of indigenous habitats and ecosystems?

9. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: Does he believe that welfare dependency is a major problem in New Zealand; if not, why not?

10. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Police: Does he agree that there is a shortage of front-line police officers in New Zealand?

11. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Will he be tabling any supplementary order papers outlining changes to the Responsible Gambling Bill; if so, what assurances can he give that there will be full consultation with sporting bodies in relation to any concerns they may have?

12. BRENT CATCHPOLE to the Minister of Commerce: In light of her reported concern to have the building industry’s problems with leaky homes resolved, will she now allocate funds for a far more widereaching inquiry into the cases of property developers evading their responsibility by liquidating companies set up specifically for a development, and thus leaving affected home owners with no course of action against them; if not, why not?

QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS

1. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Committee: Has a meeting of the Local Government and Environment Committee been set to consider its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and the subsequent action taken?

2. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Chairperson of the Privileges Committee: Has a meeting of the Privileges Committee been set to consider the question of privilege in relation to an allegation that New Zealand Post Limited breached privilege in certain responses to questions at hearings being conducted by the Finance and Expenditure Committee?

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