QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 19 November 2002

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by the statement in the Speech from the Throne in December 1999 that Article Three of the Treaty of Waitangi implies equality in the rights of citizenship; if so, why?

2. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: In response to the New Zealand Living Standards 2000 Report prepared by his officials in the Ministry of Social Development, that showed a significant minority of New Zealanders faced severe hardship, does he support lifting the minimum wage to $10 per hour as a means to raising living standards and reducing hardship; if not, why not?

3. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Does she support the decision of the Historic Places Trust to register 180 hectares of land at Welcome Bay, Tauranga as wahi tapu; if so, why?

4. JANET MACKEY to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: What reports has he received about the prospects of a New Zealand-United States trade agreement?

5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her comments, "We want all New Zealanders to enjoy access to opportunity and we want members of ethnic minorities to enjoy economic and social status on a par with that of other New Zealanders."?

6. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Have any district health boards increased the number of points which reflect the level of disability or sickness patients require to get an operation; if so, which ones?

7. GORDON COPELAND to the Minister of Finance: What is his response to recent Bank of New Zealand projections that New Zealand has "practically no chance" of achieving a four percent annual growth rate over the coming decade?

8. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: How many investor and entrepreneur category applicants, successfully granted residence, has the New Zealand Immigration Service investigated to ensure the conditions under which residency was made and granted, have been met in full?

9. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What initiatives has the Government taken to improve the information communication technology skills of school students?

10. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: Is it correct as reported by NZPA that officials were taken completely by surprise by the reference to New Zealand in the United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick's letter to the United States Senate advising that the Bush Administration was commencing negotiations for an Australian/United States free trade agreement, and in light of this development, what is the Government's current view of the prospect of New Zealand being included in an Australian/United States free trade agreement?

11. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Defence: What announcements has he made on the defence air transport fleet upgrade?

12. PHIL HEATLEY to the Minister of Fisheries: Why is he not providing a preferential tendering regime based on recent catch history so that the many regional existing paddle crab and pilchard fishers can afford to purchase quota and stay in business?

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