Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Questions to Ministers
1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement regarding tax cuts that “I am sure there
will be something for everybody. But that means individual amounts are not likely to be large, given that the money is
spread very thinly.”; if not, why not?
2. R DOUG WOOLERTON to the Minister of Finance: What was the total value of foreign investment inflows into New Zealand
in the year ended 31 March 2008, and what was the total value of income derived from foreign investment in New Zealand
in the same period?
3. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: Does he have confidence in the public health system, and why?
4. H V ROSS ROBERTSON to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology: What reaction has he received from the
research sector to the research and development tax credits, which became available from 1 April 2008?
5. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Police: Can she confirm the number of violent offences increased by 12.3 percent from
2006 to 2007?
6. HEATHER ROY to the Minister of Finance: How much additional tax revenue has been raised each financial year since he
increased the top personal income tax rate to 39 percent, and will he admit that his over-taxing of hard-working Kiwis
has far exceeded his December 1999 claims that “The increase will affect only about five percent of the workforce” and
“The change is expected to bring in around $400 million a year”?
7. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Housing: Does she agree with the findings of the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s own House Prices Unit that states “All measures of affordability have declined.”, with a “growing group of
renters, at all but the highest levels of income, whose home ownership aspirations will not be met given current prices,
interest rates and levels of income.”, and why does she think this has occurred?
8. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister of Youth Affairs: Has she received any reports on how young New Zealanders are
benefiting from the policies taking effect from 1 April 2008?
9. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister for Tertiary Education: Does he have confidence in the Tertiary Education
Commission; if so, why?
10. Hon MARK GOSCHE to the Minister for ACC: Has she received any reports regarding the delivery of the ACC scheme?
11. Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister of Māori Affairs: Does the Māori Trustee and Māori Development Amendment Bill include
provisions for appropriating $35 million from the Māori Trustee?
12. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Why is he allowing the New Zealand Lotteries Commission to
introduce online gaming for Lotto products, as announced last Friday?
Questions to Members
1. Hon GEORGE HAWKINS to the Chairperson of the Commerce Committee: What progress has been made in dealing with Petition
2005/0137 of Caroline Conroy and 372 others “requesting a review of legislation to ensure communities have a greater say
in the number and location of liquor outlets”?
ENDS