Question Time for 8 November 2016

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Why did he say, regarding the Saudi sheep deal, that “the view of Cabinet was that there had been a case that at least the investor could put up, that we may well have to fight that in court”, and was he aware when he made that statement that there was no legal advice assessing the legal risk from the investor’s case?

BARBARA KURIGER to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on New Zealand’s prosperity?

RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister of Local Government: Does he stand by his statement on 23 September 2016, “It is imperative that steps are put in place to ensure core infrastructure including water, sewerage, and roads across New Zealand are well managed. Failures of infrastructure and service are unacceptable to New Zealanders”?

JAMES SHAW to the Prime Minister: Does he accept all of the findings regarding his Government in the Auditor-General’s report into the Saudi Arabia Food Security Partnership; if not, which findings does he not accept?

ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Has he sought an explanation from the Minister for Social Development as to why the number of 18 to 24-year-olds receiving the Jobseeker Support – Work Ready payment who have been on a benefit for more than a year is rising?

Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment: What recent reports has he received on the value of international education to New Zealand?

Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his statements?

MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Social Housing: What announcements has she made about the Government increasing support for emergency housing?

RON MARK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement in relation to the Pike River Mine that “What I did promise is that we could do everything we can to get those bodies out”?

CATHERINE DELAHUNTY to the Minister for the Environment: Does he agree with the Environmental Protection Authority’s Chief Scientist Jacqueline Rowarth’s comment that the Waikato River is one of the five cleanest rivers in the world?

GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, “A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker”; if so, can he confirm that real GDP per hour worked has not grown in New Zealand since 2012?

KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI to the Minister for Small Business: What steps has the Government taken to make it easier for small business to hire employees?