Questions for Oral Answer, 23 November 2005

Questions to Ministers

1. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY to the Minister of Education: How is the Government supporting innovation in New Zealand schools?

2. Dr DON BRASH to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What is the total value of all voluntary repayments made by student loan borrowers in the last 12 months?

3. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Will he consider introducing work testing for sole parents and basing eligibility for sickness and invalids' benefits on a system more akin to that used by ACC, as proposed by the Ministry of Social Development in its briefing to the incoming Minister?

4. JOHN KEY to the Minister of Finance: Has he received any advice on the impact of lower nominal interest rates, bank advertising and the banking price war on consumers' desire to borrow and spend; if so, does this behaviour concern him?

5. MARYAN STREET to the Minister for Economic Development: What steps is the Government taking to promote the development of the venture capital market in New Zealand?

6. TIM GROSER to the Minister of Trade: Can he confirm the two billion dollar trade deficit between New Zealand and China referred to by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at APEC last week, and what steps are being taken to address any trade deficit?

7. PITA PARAONE to the Minister of Housing: Does he have any concerns regarding the availability and affordability of housing in New Zealand; if so, what are they?

8. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Health: To what extent will he have adequate plans and legislation to deal with a potential influenza pandemic in place by the end of the year?

9. Dr PITA SHARPLES to the Prime Minister: Kei te whakaae ia ki nga korero a te Kai Ripoata mo te Roopu Whakakotahi tangata o te Ao, ara a Rodolfo Stavenhagen, ka raru te nohotahitanga o nga iwi mena ka tapaina te kaupapa "kotahi anake te ture mo te katoa" i Niu Tireni? Does she agree with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, that the "one law for all" philosophy is a recipe for making race relations in New Zealand worse?

10. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Police: Is she satisfied with the level of resourcing available to the New Zealand Police to carry out their duties; if so, why?

11. H V ROSS ROBERTSON to the Minister for Building Issues: How many additional centres will receive face-to-face tenancy services as a result of the enhancements announced last week?

12. PANSY WONG to the Minister of Immigration: Will he be making any changes to the international student policy, which came into effect on 4 July 2005; if so, what changes will be made?

ENDS

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