Questions to Ministers

1. Dr DON BRASH to the Minister of Finance: When he told the House last week that, in relation to his interest-free student loans policy, "The actual costing will be $202 million a year by 2008-09 in terms of the impact on the operating provisions.", what assumption was he making about the rate at which voluntary repayments would occur?

2. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister for Economic Development: What steps is the Government taking to promote New Zealand product exports to Asian markets?

3. JUDITH COLLINS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What specific evidence was the Ministry of Social Development referring to on page 22 of its latest annual report which stated that, "Evidence shows that positive adult outcomes are built on positive childhood experiences, and poor child outcomes can be difficult to overcome as children become adults."?

4. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister of Fisheries: Has he taken any steps since becoming Minister of Fisheries, or does he plan to take any steps, to advance the policy that the Progressive Party committed to, in the 2005 Vote for the Environment survey, to "Support and actively promote a global moratorium on bottom trawling on the high seas."; if so, what steps?

5. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Police: Will she assure the House that in relation to the police decision not to prosecute Hon David Benson-Pope, that Mr Benson-Pope was treated in the same way as any other New Zealander would have been treated; if not, why not?

6. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: In the event of a bird flu pandemic, who will treat the sick being cared for in their homes?

7. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister for Courts: What initiatives has the Government put in place to improve case management in the Environment Court?

8. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Immigration: Has his department provided a briefing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Government immigration policy; if so, when?

9. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister for Information Technology: What is the Government doing to improve high-speed capacity broadband in New Zealand towns and cities?

10. Hon DAVID CARTER to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: Has he taken any action to gain access to the Australian apple market for New Zealand growers, or is he waiting for the Australian Import Risk Assessment, which Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer assured the New Zealand Government four months ago would be "weeks, not months" away?

11. R DOUG WOOLERTON to the Minister of Finance: What initiatives, if any, is the Government planning to undertake to improve real wages for New Zealand workers?

12. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Fisheries: Has he been advised of Forest and Bird's "Best Fish Guide", which states that no New Zealand fishery is sustainable and no commercial fisheries have a management plan; if so, what, if anything, does he plan to do to address those assertions, given his Ministry's role of ensuring fisheries are sustainably managed?

ENDS

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