Tuesday, 25 March 2003
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. GORDON COPELAND to the Minister of Energy: Does he stand by his statement made last April that Max Bradford’s 1998 electricity reforms were “irreversible or mostly irreversible”, and does he believe the market model is the best way forward for the electricity industry?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Is the provision of peacekeepers, mine clearing expertise and other humanitarian aid to post-war Iraq dependent upon United Nations control of Iraq; if so, why?

3. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What initiatives have been put in place to strengthen support for early childhood education services?

4. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: With respect to superannuitants who travel abroad, does the Work and Income website state “If you don’t tell us you are going overseas and your payments continue, and you stay away for more than 30 weeks, you’ll have to pay all the money back.”; if so, how quickly does Work and Income take action when a superannuitant fails to so advise the department?

5. JILL PETTIS to the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Official Development Assistance): How are contributions from New Zealand’s development assistance programme supporting democracy in the Asia-Pacific region and what are the benefits?

6. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: In light of the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament on 11 February this year “we have stepped up our promotion of free trade negotiations with the United States, following the positive reference to New Zealand in the US Trade Representative’s letter to Congress on his intention to negotiate with Australia”, what progress has been made on a bilateral free trade deal with the United States?

7. LYNNE PILLAY to the Minister of Conservation: What recent initiatives has the Government taken in marine protection?

8. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Energy: Why is he resisting calls by the Major Electricity Users Group for him to set up a national power savings campaign and to instruct Government departments to start saving power immediately?

9. DARREN HUGHES to the Minister of Youth Affairs: What reports has he received on initiatives that support the Government’s Youth Development Strategy and Youth Health Action Plan?

10. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Conservation: Will he support the proposal by the Wellington Regional Council to use the Belmont Regional Park, consisting of Department of Conservation, Hutt City and Wellington Regional Council reserves land for a wind turbine electricity generating station?

11. KEITH LOCKE to the Prime Minister: Is New Zealand one of the countries the White House says refuse to be named but are providing intelligence support for the war against Iraq?

12. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Maori Affairs: Did funding from Te Puni Kokiri cover the cost of attendance of any of Hon Dover Samuels’ past or present staff at the awards dinner hosted by Maori Sports Casting International on 6 July 2002, and on what date did Te Puni Kokiri discover that over half of its capacity building grant was spent on the awards dinner, alcohol and a band?

ENDS

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