March 28, 2013 12:18pm by Scott Miller

Parliament 28th March

Questions for Oral Answer 2pm – 3pm

Questions to Ministers

  1. JOHN HAYES to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he recently received on business confidence, investment, and growth?
  2. DAVID SHEARER to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Is it the Government’s intention to proceed with the asset sales programme?
  3. MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Social Development: What difference will the Children’s Action Plan make for vulnerable children?
  4. KRIS FAAFOI to the Minister of Police: What specific warnings, if any, has the Government received from Police around service delivery in relation to line-by-line savings within personnel and asset costs?
  5. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that, “In 2010 I spelled out very clearly that we wouldn’t be going into Schedule 4 land …”?
  6. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What progress has been made on the review of Fire Service functions and funding?
  7. DENIS O’ROURKE to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by his statement of 12 March 2013 “… last year we made changes to give priority to migrants who can make a real contribution to New Zealand, which we expect to lead to significant savings for the taxpayer …”?
  8. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Customs: What work is the Government doing to ensure correct revenue is being paid on imports and exports?
  9. STEFFAN BROWNING to the Minister for Food Safety: What action, if any, is she taking in response to the recent Canterbury University study that found food safety risks from GE are not being considered adequately by regulatory bodies?
  10. CLARE CURRAN to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by his answer to Oral Question No. 7 on Thursday, 21 March 2013?
  11. SHANE ARDERN to the Minister for Primary Industries: What changes has he recently announced to shellfish catch limits?
  12. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Was Ian Fletcher the candidate or one of the candidates named in the report to him from the State Services Commissioner following the panel interviews for the position of Director of the GCSB; if not, who suggested that Mr Fletcher be considered for the position of Director of the GCSB?

Today there are 5 questions from National on issues such as business confidence, child action plan, fire service funding,  customs taxes and catch limits for shellfish. In addition, Labour are asking 4 questions today to ministers on issues such as asset sales, police services and GCSB appointments. The Greens are also asking 2 questions in regards to mining/conservation and food safety. Finally, New Zealand First are asking 1 question on immigration.

Pasty question of the day

Today’s pasty question of the day is a tie between questions 6 and 11 which are,

6. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What progress has been made on the review of Fire Service functions and funding?

11. SHANE ARDERN to the Minister for Primary Industries: What changes has he recently announced to shellfish catch limits?

Government orders of the day 3pm – 6pm

1. Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2)  3rd reading – Hon Peter Dunne –

This bill was introduced by Peter Dunne in August 2012, in his role as Minister of Revenue. The Bill introduces data-matching with the New Zealand Customs Service to locate borrowers in serious default when they enter or leave New Zealand. It will also change the definition of income, bringing it into line with the definition used for Working For Families tax credits and student allowances, from April 2014.

2. Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill – 3rd reading – Hon Paula Bennett

This bill is designed to amend the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 and the War Pensions Act 1954 and the purpose of this bill is to allow for single superannuitants and veteran’s pensioners who are living alone do not have to make a separate application to receive their full entitlements as the current law forces them to do.

3. Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing of International Travellers) Bill – Committee Stage – Hon Nathan Guy

This bill was introduced in November 2010 and seeks to enable the Crown to recover the costs of aviation security, biosecurity, and customs traveller processing from the operators of international airports. At the 2nd reading of this bill it passed by voice vote.