Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:660;Page:8726] 
3. 
ALLAN PEACHEY (National—Tamaki) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What reports has she received on support for national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I have received several reports. I have seen the results of a  
New Zealand Herald  
survey in which 73 percent of respondents said they supported the introduction of standards for reading writing and maths in their children’s primary schools. National standards will set clear expectations of what children should have learnt and by when and will ensure that parents will know in plain language how their children are doing. The  
New Zealand Herald  
survey confirms that this is overwhelmingly what parents want and this Government is proud to be delivering that. 
Allan Peachey 
: What reports has she received from the education sector that support national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have received several reports. I have had many principals and teachers tell me they have studied the standards they have worked with their staff and they are looking forward to using the standards this year. One of those principals emailed me saying: “I think that the standards have long been needed to promote some evidence-based conversations around student achievement and progress at every layer of primary education. Thank you for being steadfast with the implementation of the national standards.” 
Allan Peachey 
: What reports has the Minister received on people changing their position on national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have seen a report from one member who in 1999 said: “We will be requiring schools to work against national standards and to report to parents on that twice a year.” In October last year that same member said: “… I support the standards. I support better information for parents I support looking at class and school results to identify”— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: We’ve got it already! 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: —I am just reminding the member—“teacher and school strengths and weaknesses so they can be built and worked on.” The author of all that was Trevor Mallard from the Labour Party which is opposing them up and down the country. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Going back to the primary answer is she in the group of 11.9 percent who claim that they fully understand her system or in the 88 percent who acknowledge that they do not? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: In answer to that question I think the member should think very carefully being 20 points behind— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member asked a very simple question and the Minister has made absolutely no attempt whatsoever to answer it. The Minister seems to want to make a statement that bears no relationship to what the member asked. The member asked whether the Minister was in the percentage who believe they understand the proposal fully or in the group that does not. People can have their own judgement about the question but it should be answered. 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Parents know what they want and this Government is delivering what they want. Labour does not seem to know what it wants. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This point— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What do you know? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am on my feet and there will be silence. The member asked a very simple question. The Minister may not think it is a very good question; I have no problem with that. But it is a fairly easy question to answer. I think the House deserves to hear an answer and I invite the member to repeat the question since we have twice asked the Minister to answer it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Is the Minister in the group of 11.9 percent who claim that they fully understand her system or in the 88 percent who acknowledge that they do not? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I understand perfectly well what the national standards are and what they can do to lift student achievement for the 150000-odd students whom the previous Labour-led Government left to fail in the education system. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Does she agree with the Prime Minister’s mentor John Hattie who said this system will hurt the most able children; if not why not? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have seen that comment from Professor Hattie and I have talked with him on a number of occasions. I have also seen his comments where he said national standards if implemented well can make a difference. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I again asked a very specific question that goes to a specific comment from Professor Hattie. It was not addressed other than by the Minister saying she saw it. She was asked whether she agreed with it and if not why not. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: The answer from the Minister pointed out a contradictory statement from the same person. That makes it very difficult to take an opinion on one person’s interpretation of what he said when there is evidence that the same person said something completely different. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not need to take further time on this point of order. In fairness where a member asks for an opinion it is very difficult for the Speaker to insist on any particular answer. As the Hon Gerry Brownlee pointed out the Minister drew attention to a comment that was somewhat different from the one that the member quoted in his question. In doing so I think it demonstrated the difficulty in agreeing to any particular one of those comments. The member has more supplementary questions. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The problem I have is that we in the House know we are allowed to ask about opinions. It is something that did not used to be the case and the Standing Orders and Speakers’ rulings have changed. But Ministers have been required to as you say answer and as previous Speakers have said address questions. The question I asked was neither addressed nor answered. A completely separate question was addressed and answered but no opinion was proffered to the House on the question that I asked. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: There is surely no need to proffer an opinion on an assertion that is offered by way of a question. In this case the Minister pointed out that the particular quote the member was basing his question on was potentially or possibly contradicted by the person to whom the quote was attributed in a subsequent comment. I think the Minister answered perfectly adequately by saying she had seen it but she had also seen the subsequent quote. We could go back and forth all day on this. I think asking for opinions in questions should mean that the person who answers that question has some discretion about whether he or she offers that opinion. It cannot become mandatory. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have heard quite sufficient on this. I do not want to take more time of the House. The points that have been made are fair enough. The member made the point that opinions can be sought in questions and that although it was not always the case with our Standing Orders today it can be done. The dilemma is that I cannot insist on particular answers when opinions are sought. That is the risk that the member takes when asking a question that seeks an opinion but I think in fairness the Minister addressed the question just as much as I have heard questions being addressed in this House over recent years. I think the member has further supplementary questions. He is clearly not satisfied with the answer he received in response to the question he asked. He can dig deeper with further supplementary questions should he wish to do so.