Select Committee Business

From 8 November to 15 November 2002

Committee meetings

There were 19 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/select-reports)

Commerce

- Petition 1999/166 of Danny Anglesey and 1115 others

Finance and Expenditure

- 2001/02 financial review of The Treasury and the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2002

Government Administration

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

- 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

- 2001/02 financial review of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

- 2001/02 financial review of the Office of the Ombudsmen

- 2001/02 financial review of Archives New Zealand

- 2001/02 financial review of Statistics New Zealand

- 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs

Health

- 2001/02 financial review of the South Canterbury District Health Board

- 2001/02 financial review of the Hutt Valley District Health Board

- 2001/02 financial review of the Waitemata District Health Board

- 2001/02 financial review of the Whanganui District Health Board

Bills referred to select committees

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill was referred to the Primary Production committee with a requirement to report by 2 December 2002.

Committee notes

(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in italics)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee considered the Pitcairn Trials Bill this week. Further consideration will be given to the bill next week.

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee continued hearing evidence on the inquiry into the weathertightness of buildings in New Zealand.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday and continued consideration of the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper 148. The report date for the bill has been extended to 27 February 2003. The committee also heard evidence from the Ministry of Health on its inquiry into the proposal for a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products. Submissions on the inquiry closed this week.

The report dates for the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill and the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill have been extended to 28 May 2003.

The committee intends to report on its inquiry into health strategies relating to cannabis use early in 2003. The committee initiated the inquiry in September, with the intention of completing the inquiry held by the Health Committee of the previous parliament.

The committee is currently inviting public submissions on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. The closing date for submissions is 27 November 2002. Further information is available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/programmes/committees/submissions/hehpca.html

Justice and Electoral (Louise Sparrer, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 13 November to consider the Prostitution Reform Bill. It will not meet next week.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 13 November to consider the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill and the 2001/02 financial reviews of the Department of Corrections and the Department for Courts. The meeting was open to the public during hearings of evidence from the chief executive and departmental officials from both departments.

The committee next meets on Wednesday, 20 November, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, to further consider the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill and consider the 2001/02 financial review of the Serious Fraud Office. The meeting will be open to the public, from 12 noon to 1.00 pm, during a hearing of evidence from the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Mr David Bradshaw, and the Assistant Director Investigations, Mr Gib Beattie,

Maori Affairs (Julian Kersey, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 14 November. It considered and heard evidence on the Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Bill. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 21 October. It will consider the Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Bill and the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill.

Officers of Parliament (Andrew Beattie, SC-OP@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 14 November. It considered procedures for the appointment of an Officer of Parliament and the process and proposed timetable for the appointment of an Ombudsman. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 13 February 2003 to consider the appointment of an Ombudsman.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 14 November. It finalised the terms of reference for its inquiry into the scampi fisheries as follows:

“The Primary Production Select Committee will conduct an inquiry into the administration and management of New Zealand’s scampi fishery. The committee’s inquiry will include, but may not be confined to:

- The development of policy and the management of the allocation of scampi quota in all fishing areas within the New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone with particular reference to the “catch history’ methods and periods relating to future allocation of quota.

- The development of policy and the granting and administration of permits and registration of vessels to fish within the New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone with particular reference to the treatment of fishing companies involved in the scampi fishery.

- The treatment by the Ministry of Fisheries and its predecessor of Barine Development Limited and other companies and their principals concerned about the granting and revoking of authorities to engage in scampi commercial fishing from 1989 to the present.

- All circumstances relating to the treatment of any fisheries inspector or other Ministry of Fisheries staff or staff of its predecessor with respect to the scampi fisheries including any suspension or termination payments.

- The relevant reporting, monitoring and policing of commercial fish catches to ensure compliance with the law with relevance to scampi and by-catch during the period 1990-92.

- To investigate and determine whether any allegations made regarding maladministration in relation to the scampi fishery were made for the proper reasons, and whether they were dealt with appropriately.

- To include in its consideration all court cases the committee considers relevant to the inquiry and to consider any relevant investigations undertaken by Crown agencies.’

The committee has also called for written submissions with a closing date of Friday, 20 December 2002. This enables the committee to commence hearings when Parliament resumes in 2003.

This week the committee also considered the Hop Industry Restructuring Bill and the 2001/02 financial reviews of Animal Control Products Limited and Quotable Value New Zealand Limited.

The Committee’s next meeting, currently scheduled for 21 November, will be to consider further the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Hop Industry Restructuring Bill. It will also hear evidence on and give consideration to the Wine Bill and hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review Quotable Value New Zealand Limited.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 13 November and continued its regular scrutiny of new government regulations. It also heard evidence on the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill from the Ministry of Fisheries.

The committee has decided to conduct an inquiry into the principles determining whether delegated legislation is given the status of regulations. This follows on from the inquiry undertaken by the Regulations Review Committee of the 46th Parliament and will employ the same terms of reference.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 20 November to further consider the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill.

Standing Orders (David Bagnall, SC-SO@parliament.govt.nz)

On Thursday the committee considered the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill. The committee then heard evidence from the Parliamentary Counsel Office and the Office of the Clerk on the Public Access to Legislation project, which from next year will allow the public to access, via the Internet, up-to-date Acts and other legislation. This will include the ability to view bills, and amendments to them, at key stages during their passage through the House. The Clerk of the House then briefed the committee on proposals for the printing of other parliamentary publications.

The committee will meet next Thursday to continue its consideration of the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

At the meeting in 14 November the committee heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Department of Labour. The committee is not scheduled to meet next week.

Closing dates for submissions

Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown:

Commerce

Anglican (Diocese of Christchurch) Church Property Trust Bill (10 January 2003)

Rotorua District (Easter Sunday Shop Trading) Bill (20 December 2002)

Health

Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill (27 November 2002)

Law and Order

Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill (29 November 2002)

Local Government and Environment

Marine Reserves Bill (31 January 2003)

Primary Production

Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill (18 November 2002)

Wine Bill (18 November 2002)

General

You can find further information about select committees on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. If you require additional information or have any feedback on the contents, please contact:

Carol Rankin

Senior Parliamentary Officer

carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 15 November 2002

© Scoop Media