Parliament Today 29 May 2014

Questions for Oral Answer.

Questions to Ministers 2.00PM-3.00PM. 

  1. MARK MITCHELL to the Minister of Finance: What measures did 2014 include to support children and families, as part of the 's wider programme to build a more productive and competitive economy?
  2. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with the regarding consumer prices that “when judged against average expenditure, the price level in New Zealand appears relatively high”?
  3. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Is he confident that ordinary New Zealanders are being treated fairly under the emissions trading scheme?
  4. SIMON O'CONNOR to the Minister of Transport: What announcements did the Government make in Budget 2014 regarding investment in Auckland transport infrastructure?
  5. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Housing: How many homes have been built in the Special Housing Areas as a result of the Auckland Housing Accord, and now have people living in them?
  6. SCOTT SIMPSON to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has the Government made for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner?
  7. ALFRED NGARO to the Minister of Housing: What steps is the Government taking to grow the community housing sector to achieve the target of 20 percent of social housing by 2018?
  8. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: What was the problem that needed to be fixed when he proposed to reduce the size of University Councils in the Education Amendment Bill (No. 2)?
  9. IAN McKELVIE to the Minister for Primary Industries: What reports has he received on the economic impacts of the Primary Growth Partnership?
  10. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Justice: Does she agree with Suzanne Snively from Transparency International that there is “an awful lot of complacency” about corruption in New Zealand?
  11. Dr  to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Has he asked for any advice on the potential profit made by companies, which were given free New Zealand units under industrial allocations in the emissions trading scheme, submitting cheaper offshore units instead to meet their liabilities; if so, what was it?
  12. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has she made about funding to support implementation of the EEZ legislation?

Today Labour are asking four questions. These are about consumer prices, housing, the size of University Councils, and corruption. The Greens are asking two questions about the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Patsy of the Day goes to Jacqui Dean for Question 12:  What recent announcements has she made about funding to support implementation of the EEZ legislation?

Government Bills 3.00PM-6.00PM

1. Appropriation (2013/14 Supplementary Estimates) Bill (The Budget) – First Reading

2. Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3) –  Committee Stage

3. Veterans' Support Bill – Committee Stage

The Appropriation (2013/14 Supplementary Estimates) Bill (The Budget) is guided through the house by the Minister of Finance, Bill English.  This bill seeks parliamentary authorisation of the individual appropriations and changes contained in The Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand and Supporting Information for the year ending 30 June 2014.

The  Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 3) is being guided through the house by the Associate Minister for Local Government, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. This bill would implement the Government's second phase of legislative reform relating to the operation of local government.

The Veterans' Support Bill is being guided through the house by the Minister for Veteran's Affairs, Michael Woodhouse. This bill proposes a new support scheme for veterans of service that would replace the current scheme prescribed in the War Pensions Act 1954.