2. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Did Cabinet decide against following the recommendations of the Parliamentary Service Commission reached at its meeting on Thursday, 9 April 2009; if so, why?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) Link to this
Yes; because the Government decided to follow the recommendations of the independent 2007 Appropriations Review Committee.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Does he think it is appropriate to overrule the unanimous decision of the all-party Parliamentary Service Commission, chaired by an independent person, to achieve a result that predominantly benefits the National Party and the Māori Party by nearly $1 million a year?
The recommendations from the Parliamentary Service Commission were going to give the National Party and Māori Party even more advantage than this decision does. That is why we turned them down.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Can the Minister tell the House why National is so intent on feathering its own nest by increasing funding and pay in its offices, while at the same time sacking public servants?
That is a bit rich, coming from a member who was on a committee that put up a recommendation that invited us to feather our nest even more. So why is he now getting up to complain about National turning down that recommendation?
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Is he aware that some general seats that are bigger than the Māori electorates miss out on his deal; if so, did he consult the member for Clutha-Southland, who campaigned for there to be one standard of citizenship?
I am not aware of the detail of that, but I am aware that the 2007 independent review set up by the previous Labour Government recommended that electorates in excess of 20,000 square kilometres in area be entitled to the services of an extra staff member. Of course, that has upset the Labour Party because now that they have lost all but one of the Māori seats they do not benefit from it.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Can the Minister confirm to the House that his Government’s motivation for this move is to provide the Māori Party with payback for its support for tax cuts for the rich, and for its agreement to oppose the entrenchment of Māori seats?
Let us just get this clear: the independent review under the Labour Government in 2007 recommended the extra staff member. The Parliamentary Service Commission, on the urging of Labour, recommended spending more money on more electorates, and Cabinet turned it down because we thought it went too far.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Where in the appropriations review does it state that in addition to a third staff member being supplied, MPs should get an extra $40,000?
The Parliamentary Service Commission, the Speaker, and Cabinet have followed the recommendations of the appropriations review. We cannot help it that Labour lost the Māori seats, so misses out.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
When the Minister spoke last week about the constraints he is facing in putting together this year’s Budget, did he mention that he was increasing funding by 55 percent for 10 MPs—eight of whom are from the Government, including the member for Clutha-Southland?
The process that has been followed has been quite straightforward and transparent. As part of the confidence and supply agreement between National and the Māori Party, the conclusions of the 2007 review were incorporated. The Parliamentary Service Commission then looked at the process and recommended that we spend more money on more National MPs. We said no.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Can the Minister of Finance just tell us how he is controlling Government expenditure by increasing the funding by 55 percent for 10 MPs, eight of whom just happen to be from the Government?
That is the same question. The reason eight of the MPs happen to be from the Government is that Labour lost the Māori vote so badly that, having held the Māori seats forever, it has now lost all but one of them. If Labour ever happens to win back any of those seats—which I think is unlikely—it may well get the benefit of this provision for very large electorates.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do this somewhat reluctantly, but I think there is some obligation on you. I know we cannot debate the facts in answers, but that member was in the House when all of the Māori seats were held by a party other than Labour—
Mr SPEAKER