Select Committee Business

From 30 May to 6 June

Committee meetings

There were 2 committee meetings, both in the parliamentary complex.

Bills referred to select committees

There were no bills referred.

Reports presented

(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport)

There were no reports presented.

Committee notes

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

Education and Science (Angela Van Dam, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 11 June to consider and hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Votes Education, Education Review Office, and Research, Science and Technology. The committee will also consider the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill.

Finance and Expenditure (Peter Hurndell, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee did not meet this week. Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 11 June to consider the:

- recently released Monetary Policy Statement

- Estimates of Appropriations for the year ending 30 June 2004 (Votes Finance, Revenue and Energy)

- Fiscal Strategy Report 2003 and, the Economic and Fiscal Update 2003

- Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations for the year ending 30 June 2003.

This meeting will be held in Room G.006 Parliament House, and will be open to the public from 8.30 am to 9.30 am (Monetary Policy Statement), 10.00 am to 11.30 am (Votes Finance and Revenue, Fiscal Strategy Report and Economic and Fiscal Update), and 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm (Vote Energy).

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

The committee did not meet this week. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 12 June to hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Votes Statistics, Emergency Management, Ministerial Services and Parliamentary Services.

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

On Wednesday, 4 June the committee heard evidence on the Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 11 June to hear evidence on its inquiry into the proposal to establish a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products. This will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 11.00 am in Room G.002 Parliament House.

In response to public concern, the committee has decided to widen its call for submissions on its inquiry into the health effects of Agent Orange on New Zealand Defence personnel who served in the Vietnam War. The terms of reference are:

The Health Committee will:

1. identify and examine evidence that New Zealand defence personnel were exposed to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War, including new evidence that New Zealand defence personnel served in an area identified as defoliated by the United States defence forces.

2. evaluate the McLeod Report to the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the report of the Ministerial Advisory Committee inquiry into the health status of children of Vietnam and Operation Grapple veterans with respect to New Zealand defence personnel in Vietnam and their families.

3. assess the health risks to defence personnel in Vietnam and the exposure effects on families identified in relevant international studies.

4. assess the current levels of health services for New Zealand veterans and their families who have been identified as exposed to Agent Orange or other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and whether further health services are required.

Submissions close on Monday, 21 July 2003. Please forward 25 copies of your submission to Catherine Parkin, Health Committee Secretariat, Bowen House, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. If you wish to appear before the committee, state this clearly with your submission, providing a contact name and daytime phone number. Submissions to select committees generally become public. Please contact the committee secretariat before sending information of a private or personal nature.

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

The committee did not meet this week. The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 11 June when it will consider its Estimates for 2003/04, the Supreme Court Bill, the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill. The meeting will be held in room G.005 in Parliament House and will be open to the public from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm for a hearing of evidence on Vote Justice.

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

The committee did not meet this week. The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 11 June to consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill and conduct a further hearing of evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Police. The hearing will be open to the public from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm (room to be advised).

Local Government and Environment (Marie Alexander, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 5 June to hear evidence from the Minister of Conservation and officials on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Conservation. The committee also completed hearing submissions on the Marine Reserves Bill. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 12 June to consider its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee did not meet this week. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 12 June to hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Treaty Negotiations, and to consider its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

The committee is calling for submissions on the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill 2003. The closing date for submissions is 20 June 2003. Submissions should be addressed to Miles Reay, Clerk of the Maori Affairs Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Information about making a submissions can be found on our website.

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

The committee did not meet this week. It will next meet on 9 and 12 June. On Monday, 9 June the committee will hear evidence and continue its consideration of the Wool Industry Restructuring Bill. It will also continue its consideration of the Inquiry into the administration and management of the Scampi fishery, and the Wine Bill. On Thursday, 12 June the committee will continue its consideration of the Wool Industry Restructuring Bill and hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Biosecurity.

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

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 11 June to continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations. The report of the Activities of the Regulations Review Committee during 2002 was presented to the House on 29 May.

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

The committee will meet next on Thursday, 12 June to hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Transport. The meeting will be open to the public during the hearing of evidence.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry (31 July 2003)

Education and Science

New Organisms and Other Matters Bill (13 June 2003)

Local Government and Environment

Christchurch City Council (Robert McDougall Gallery) Land Vesting Bill (27 June

2003)

Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) (20 June 2003)

Maori Affairs

Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill (20 June 2003)

Social Services

Families Commission Bill (11 July 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations

Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill (6 June 2003)

Holidays Bill (30 May 2003)

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:

Jonathan Easthope

Parliamentary Officer

jonathan.easthope@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 6 June 2003.

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