Parliament – Thursday 30 May 2013

Questions for Oral Answer 2pm – 3pm

Questions to Ministers:

1. MAGGIE BARRY (NAT) to the Minister of Finance: How did the Budget balance the Government’s programme of responsible fiscal management with extra support for vulnerable families?
2. JACINDA ARDERN (LAB) to the Minister for Social Development: Do the same needs in the community continue to exist now as they did in 2011 when she extended the life of the Community Response Fund stating “we listened to community organisations who were concerned the fund was ending while pressures remained, so we kept it going”; if not, why not?
3. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (GRE) to the Minister of Finance: By how much, in dollar terms, is the Treasury forecasting New Zealand’s external debt to increase between 2012 and 2017 as measured by the net international investment position?
4. Dr CAM CALDER (NAT) to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: How is the Government investing in New Zealand’s export education sector in Budget 2013?
5. CHRIS HIPKINS (LAB) to the Prime Minister: In the inquiry being conducted by David Henry into the leaking of the Kitteridge report on the GCSB, are Ministers being interviewed on oath; if not, why not?
6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (NZF) to the Minister of Transport: Why does Civil Aviation Rule Part 67 require that the applicant for a commercial or airline transport pilot licence have no deficit of colour vision to an extent that is of “aeromedical significance”?
7. Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (NAT) to the Minister of Housing: How will Budget 2013 contribute to delivering more affordable housing and better social housing?
8. Hon ANNETTE KING (LAB) to the Minister of Health: Are all district health boards meeting his expectations of providing timely, quality health services; if not, which DHBs are failing to provide “Better, Sooner, More Convenient” health care?
9. COLIN KING (NAT) to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has the Government made regarding the School Network Upgrade Project?
10. GRANT ROBERTSON (LAB) to the Minister of Justice: How many expressions of interest or nominations for the position of Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner were received by the Ministry of Justice after the advertised deadline of 13 October 2012?
11. KEVIN HAGUE (GRE) to the Minister of Health: How many New Zealanders are expected to have diabetes in 2021, and what is the expected cost of providing health services for them?
12. Hon PHIL HEATLEY (NAT) to the Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has the Government made to help businesses understand and manage the risks posed by hazardous substances?

 Questions to Members:

1. HOLLY WALKER to the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee: When do submissions to the Social Services Committee on the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill close?
2. HOLLY WALKER to the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee: What is the length of the period for submissions to the Social Services Committee for the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill?
3. HOLLY WALKER to the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee: Has he, as chairperson of the Social Services Committee, written to anyone soliciting submissions the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill; if so, who?
4. HOLLY WALKER to the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee: How many submissions have been received on the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill?
5. HOLLY WALKER to the Chairperson of the Social Services Committee: Did he decide that submissions to the Social Services Committee on the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill will close today; if so, why?

Today National is asking five questions, Labour four, the Greens two, and NZ First one. Labour is asking about the Community Response Fund, the inquiry into the Kitteridge report leak, DHBs, and the appointment of Jackie Blue as Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner. The Greens are asking about external debt and diabetes in NZ, while Winston Peters is asking about Civil Aviation Rules.

Nothing from David Shearer today, so patsy/pasty of the day goes to Phil Heatley for question 12: what recent announcements has the Government made to help businesses understand and manage the risks posed by hazardous substances?

Holly Walker is also asking Sam Lotu-liga a bunch of questions about submissions on the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill.

Budget Debate 3pm – 6pm

The Budget debate will continue, with just under 6 and a half hours remaining.