Questions for Oral Answer As At Thursday, 7 April 2005

Questions to Ministers

1. IAN EWEN-STREET to the Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that there is little evidence that existing efforts to address environmental effects of farming are "sufficiently profound or widespread enough to maintain and enhance New Zealand's natural capital."; if not, why not?

2. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her reported statement that John Tamihere's comments maligning her and her Government were a result of stress?

3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How much additional money per week are senior citizens likely to receive as a result of the Working for Families package?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Education: Has he been advised of the compliance costs of the data collection requirements for the new early childhood education funding system that requires some services to perform a "Staff Hour Count"?

5. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What is the Government doing to secure the release of Hamish Sands' body and to determine the cause of his death?

6. RON MARK to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement, "I am advised that detectives are not reassigned from their primary duties"; if so, why?

7. MARK PECK to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: What reports, if any, has he received regarding the sale of State-owned enterprises?

8. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for Building Issues: What adverse reports, if any, has he received on the effects on homeowners and building owners of the new Building Act 2004?

9. GORDON COPELAND to the Associate Minister of Justice: Is she satisfied that the interests of children, mothers and fathers seeking to clarify legal paternity are adequately provided for by current law; if so, why? 10. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: Can she confirm that the 2003 Health and Independence Report shows that in 1999/2000 there were 160,574 publicly funded surgical inpatient discharges (acute and elective) and in 2002/03 this number had fallen to 157,754; if not, why not?

11. DIANNE YATES to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What is the Government doing to support New Zealand's creative industries?

12. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Housing: What concerns, if any, does he have about poor incentives in the social welfare system in light of John Tamihere's statement that "We've got a range of poor incentives. We say to people 'you stay in a state house at 25% gross', and we're teaching them to be crooks. There might be four income earners in there - we'll never know it." and what is he doing about them?

ENDS

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