5. Labour - New Zealand First Coalition—Treasury CostingsHon STEVEN JOYCE (National) to the Minister of FinanceLabour - New Zealand First Coalition—Treasury Costings5. Hon STEVEN JOYCE (National) to the Minister of Finance: What specific policies did the Treasury cost as a consequence of the recent Government formation?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): Treasury advise me that as a consequence of the Government formation they have been involved in the costings and the policies within the Government's 100-day plan. As a matter of course they are now working with departments on the costings of all policies that will be in Budget 2018 which are clearly too numerous to detail to the House in question time. Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This particular question was one that was debated quite a bit with the Clerk's Office to get it within the Standing Orders. It makes a request about specific policies that Treasury costed. With the greatest respect to the Minister I don't think he's answered the question about that at all. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Speaking to the point of order the questioner asked me what Treasury has done as a consequence of the recent Government formation. Consequences are things that happen after an event. I have described the things that happened after the Government formation. Mr SPEAKER: The problem I have Mr Robertson is it does start off with What specific policies". I'm absolutely certain that in the end when the Minister said that they were too numerous to quantify all of them and to be specific about I think he could have been more helpful and I advise him next time to tell us three or four. I will give him another chance. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: As I said in my primary answer Treasury has been looking into the costings of the 100-day plan. This includes the Tax Working Group the Families Package costs around the Overseas Investment Act changes social housing and the restarting of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund contribution. Hon Steven Joyce: Has Treasury conducted costings on the regional provincial growth fund and has an assessment been made at this stage of the split between capital and operating and also the split between new and recycled money; and if so what is the approximate nature of those splits. Mr SPEAKER: And I think there were actually—I mean I know the Minister is not experienced in this area but I think there were five supplementaries there.Hon Steven Joyce: No there were three.Mr SPEAKER: Three with either/ors but yes. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Treasury has been involved in early discussions about the shape and the criteria of the provincial growth fund but those are at very early stages. Hon Steven Joyce: What specific policies did Treasury cost for the Labour Party during the recent Government formation negotiations? Mr SPEAKER: That's not a matter for which the Minister has any ministerial responsibility. Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand that when this was discussed with the Clerk the reliance was on Speaker's ruling 159/3 and that makes it quite clear that as you say the current Government is not responsible for the last Government's actions. I think the issue here though is what you've got is a situation where it's about an entity—in this case Treasury—that spans the Governments and that is providing advice specifically for the new incoming Government. So my submission to you is it's clearly within the Standing Orders. It's clearly relevant to what this Government is doing and you should allow it. Mr SPEAKER: Well—Hon Chris Hipkins: Speaking to the point of order—Mr SPEAKER: No I don't think I need the member because clearly when there is a question that's been contentious or there's been contention around it I am briefed. However I would prefer that discussions that are held outside the House with officials aren't—the details of them are not brought in here because in the end the shape of the question is my responsibility with the member who's asked it. I think it is quite clear that there is not ministerial responsibility for costings just as there is no responsibility on the part of Mr Robertson for the costings for any other negotiations that happened at that time. Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Bearing in mind your previous ruling then when the Minister has made reference to costings of some type already in question time is it within the Standing Orders to ask a follow-up question in that regard? Mr SPEAKER: If the Minister has referred to Treasury costings done before the formation of the Government and has relied on those in the House then at that stage he can be questioned on them.Hon Steven Joyce: What are the specific policy ideas he had in mind when he replied yesterday in question time to a question regarding fiscal costings "We did access Treasury for a handful of specific policy ideas."?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can say that that was in the area of existing liability for pay claims facing the Government.Hon Steven Joyce: If that's all that the finance Minister costed with the specific policy costings at that time then how can he have confidence that the coalition agreement that he's now responsible for executing as finance Minister can be achieved within his fiscal parameters he holds so dear?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The responsibility for costings during a coalition period lies with the State Services Commission and involves a range of agencies who would be providing information; Treasury is just one of those.Hon Steven Joyce: Can the Minister confirm whether there is anything further in the either 32- or 33-page secret coalition addendum that would add to the fiscal costs of this coalition Government?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The costs in the formal coalition agreement the confidence and supply agreement are being worked on fully and I am absolutely confident that they can be met within the Budget 2018 guidelines. Those are the guiding documents of this coalition; no other document that the member might be referring to.Hon Steven Joyce: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked a very specific question around the document that's being debated—Mr SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat. I should have ruled the member out at the time. I apologise for being too kind to him.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask the Minister whether or not even as a matter of personal opinion formed after some time in this House he thinks these questions are in danger of putting Mogadon out of business?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Mr Speaker?Mr SPEAKER: No not a chance."