Parliament Today 10 December 2013

Questions for Oral Answer

Questions to Ministers 2.00PM – 3.00PM.

  1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for Social Development:Will she set specific targets for reducing child poverty; if so, what child poverty measures will she use?
  2. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What progress has the Government made with its economic programme in 2013?
  3. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: How has the Government's asset sale programme increased the confidence of “mum and dad investors” in capital markets and improved the standard of living for New Zealanders?
  4. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister for :What reports has he received on progress in the manufacturing sector?
  5. JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development:Does she stand by her statement that “I do not think that anyone denies that there are living in this country at a standard that we do not find acceptable”; if so, what specific targets, if any, will she set in light of the Child Poverty Monitor released on Monday?
  6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Associate Minister of Māori Affairs: Does he stand by all of his statements?
  7.  to the Associate Minister of : What recent announcements has he received regarding newly listed medicines?
  8.  to the Minister of Trade: Will he release the final text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement before it is approved by the Cabinet; if not, why not?
  9. TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Deputy Prime Minister: Does he agree with the Children's Commissioner that “Setting targets, like we do with the road toll and with NCEA, if we had that kind of commitment, that legislation and plan, then we'd see a year-on-year fall”; if so, is he prepared to instruct the Ministerial Committee on Poverty to introduce the four child poverty measures released in the Child Poverty Monitor?
  10. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: What recent reports has he received on the affordability of health care for New Zealanders?
  11. CLAUDETTE HAUITI to the Minister for the Environment: What recent reports has she received on the progress of the TV Takeback scheme?
  12.  to the Minister of Housing: Does he believe he is doing a good job of tackling housing demand for those most in need?

Today Labour are asking about asset sales, child poverty, healthcare affordability and housing demand. The Greens are asking about child poverty and the trans-pacific partnership agreement.  New Zealand First is asking whether the Minister of Maori Affairs stands by all his statements.

Patsy question of the day goes to Claudette Hauiti for Question 11: What recent reports has she received on the progress of the TV Takeback scheme?

Government Bills 3.00PM – 6.00PM and 7.30PM-10.00PM.

1. Appropriation (2012/13 Financial Review) Bill – Second Reading

2. Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 2) – Second and Third Reading.

3. Taxation (Annual Rates, Employee Allowances, and Remedial  Matters) Bill– First Reading

The Appropriation (2012/13 Financial Review) Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, . The purpose of this bill is to confirm and validate financial matters relating to the 2012/13 financial year.

The Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 2) is being guided through the house by the Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee.  This bill seeks to validate certain subordinate legislation that would otherwise lapse.

The Taxation (Annual Rates, Employee Allowances and Remedial Matters) Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister of Revenue, Todd McClay. taxation omnibus bill introduces amendments to various Inland Revenue Acts.