Parliament 26 February 2013.

Questions for Oral Answer.

Questions to Ministers.

  1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Why did he say last week in relation to SkyCity “Its architects designed such a thing, realised they needed more land, worked out owned the land, and approached Television New Zealand”?
  2. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in relation to asset sales “I spent my life starting in investment banking. I know how these things work”?
  3. PAUL GOLDSMITH to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the economy?
  4. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister for , Skills and Employment: Does he agree with the Prime Minister “the number one thing New Zealanders need to rely on is that they have a job, so they can provide for their families”; if so, how many New Zealanders are currently unemployed?
  5. Dr  to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement reported in the Southland Times in June 2011 that, “At the moment companies like Solid Energy are growth companies and we want them to expand in areas like lignite conversion”?
  6. Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA to the Minister for Development: What impact have the Government's welfare reforms had to date?
  7. Hon  to the Minister for : In light of the view of the Deputy Auditor-General that “… the work through to August 2009 was … reasonable and careful”; did the Prime Minister's intervention in August 2009 result in an approach that was no longer reasonable and careful?
  8. COLIN KING to the Minister for Primary Industries: What progress can he report on increasing New Zealand's economic and environmental performance through investment in irrigation?
  9. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he agree with his predecessor Hon Simon Power that in 2009 the Government was “looking carefully” at the make-up of SOE boards and “commercial expertise is at the forefront of our minds”?
  10. MOJO MATHERS to the Associate Minister of Transport: What steps, if any, has he taken to ensure that KiwiRail does not skimp on safety for people with disabilities?
  11. CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all of her statements?
  12. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What announcements has he made recently regarding New Zealand companies securing key government ICT contracts?

Today Labour are asking five questions, The Greens two and New Zealand First one. Labour are asking about asset sales,  , the auditor general's report into  Skycity , SOE Board members and whether the Minister of Education stands by all her statements. The Greens are asking about Solid Energy and safety for the disabled on trains. NZ First are also asking about the Skycity report.

Patsy question of the day goes to Jacqui Dean for Question 12: What announcements has he made recently regarding New Zealand companies securing key government ICT contracts?

Government Bills 4.00 PM -6.00 PM and 7.30 PM -10.00 PM.

1. Child Support Amendment Bill – Second Reading.

2. Corrections Amendment Bill–  Third Reading.

3. Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill– Committee Stage (Continued).

4. Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Covered Bonds) Amendment Bill – Second Reading

The  Child Support Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by Peter Dunne, the Minister of Revenue. The bill will make three changes to Child Support. These are a new child support calculation formula, secondary changes to update the child support scheme more generally and amendments to the payment, penalty, and rules for child support.

The Corrections Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by Anne Tolley, the Minister of Corrections. The main aim of this Bill is to remove barriers to managing prisoners in a manner that is safe, secure, humane, effective, and efficient.

The Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by , the Minister of Local Government. This bill extends the Canterbury Regional Council's governance arrangement and special water management decision-making powers in the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2012

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Covered Bonds) Amendment Bill is being guided through the house by Bill English, the Minister of Finance.  This bill seeks to establish a legislative framework for covered bonds.