Questions for Oral Answer
As At Tuesday, 27 July 2004
Questions to Ministers
1. CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the state of the New Zealand
economy?
2. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: As of today, how many New Zealanders are
receiving the sickness and invalid's benefits, and what percentage change does that represent from the numbers receiving
the same benefits in 1999?
3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does he still dismiss suggestions that
Work and Income had a policy of transferring hard-to-employ people from unemployment to sickness benefits; if so, why?
4. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Deputy Prime Minister: Does he stand by his response on the Agenda programme of 24 April 2004
when asked if an effect of the Foreshore and Seabed Bill will be to create veto powers effectively allowing Maori to
refuse consent unless they are reimbursed, thereby creating a charging regime, that, "If we're talking about a customary
usage right that could be the case"; if so, why?
5. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister for Food Safety: Why has she not used her powers under section 40 of the Food Act 1981 to
issue a mandatory recall of all food products that contained cornflour that was contaminated with lead 100 times above
the maximum level accepted under New Zealand standards?
6. LYNNE PILLAY to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): How is the Tertiary Education Commission
assisting the tertiary education sector to support growth and innovation?
7. BRIAN CONNELL to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his responses to the House to Question for Oral Answer
number 3 on 23 June 2004; if so, why?
8. DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Conservation: Has he received any reports on the current management of the former
Timberlands forests that are now protected as conservation land?
9. RON MARK to the Minister of Justice: Will he be reviewing the sentencing laws to ensure that provision for reparation
to victims does not buy lighter sentences; if not, why not?
10. RODNEY HIDE to the Prime Minister: Following her advice to judges that they should "stick to the bench", how does
she believe that Chief Justice Sian Elias should pursue her concerns about the "institutional independence of the
judiciary as a whole from the Executive.", given the Chief Justice's view quoted in the New Zealand Herald that the
judges are "very vulnerable on this question of independence"?
11. JUDY TURNER to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does he stand by his statement with regard to the
development of family support services that "I am confident that MSD's collaboration with NGOs and other relevant
agencies to achieve a more effective and responsive family service sector will not only relieve pressure on CYF but also
result in greater practical help for New Zealand families in their communities,"; if not, why not?
12. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: Does she believe the amount of elective surgery currently being
performed by the Canterbury District Health Board is meeting the needs of Canterbury residents; if so, why?
ENDS