Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Questions to Ministers
1. JOHN KEY to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by the statement she made yesterday, in relation to debt to GDP ratios
that, “over the forecast period of the Budget that the Labour Government has delivered these debt to GDP ratios are
consistently falling”; if so, why?
2. Hon PAUL SWAIN to the Minister of Finance: What action has the Government taken to restore and increase the level of
New Zealand Superannuation?
3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: What is the Government’s policy on state funding for political parties?
4. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the Government’s current policy on how
Work and Income staff should treat beneficiaries?
5. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What further action, if any, has he taken since I first asked last
week, to ensure Governments in the Pacific region are honest, transparent, and accountable?
6. LYNNE PILLAY to the Minister of Justice: What reports has she received on the establishment of the Sentencing Council
and the creation of Sentencing Guidelines?
7. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: Can he confirm that management and administration staff at district health
boards increased from 8,250 at 30 June 2001 to 10,236 as at 31 December 2007, as per answers to written questions; and
is this in line with government policy?
8. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What reports, if any, has he received on the importance
of transparency in tertiary education policy?
9. BARBARA STEWART to the Associate Minister of Health: Is he satisfied with the current availability of drug and
alcohol abuse assessment and treatment programmes in New Zealand; if so, why?
10. JUDITH COLLINS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her statement that “From 1
April 2009, Work and Income will talk to their clients in a much more generic way about their income support. The focus
of discussions about income support will be on ensuring full and correct entitlement to financial assistance rather than
making any reference to specific benefit type.”?
11. CHARLES CHAUVEL to the Associate Minister of Justice: What is the Government doing to give communities more say in
liquor licensing decisions?
12. CHESTER BORROWS to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by the Prime Minister’s statement prior to the last
election that “It is not credible, however, to promise thousands more new police when the capacity of the police college
and the labour market conditions in a strong economy mean that such numbers could not be recruited and trained without
seriously compromising standards and quality.”?
ENDS