Macindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMacindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 28 May 2014. Volume:699;Page:18391. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) to theMinister of Science and Innovation: What recent announcements has he made about the future direction of investment in science and innovation in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation): Today I released the draft National Statement of Science Investment which sets out the current settings and proposed future priorities for Government science investment. This Government’s investment in science is very significant with funding budgeted to reach $1.5 billion in the year 2015-16 which is an increase of more than 70 percent since 2007-08. The draft statement up for consultation and feedback is intended to encourage discussions with the sector in regard to the overall direction of science investment and the balance of that spend for example between investigator-led mission-led and business-led research and development.Tim Macindoe: Why is it important for the science community to contribute to the proposed shape and direction of Government investment in science?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well New Zealand is now making a much bigger investment in science than it was just 6 years ago. It is vital that the science community and those who have an interest in the results of science have the opportunity to contribute to the Government’s priorities in responding to the unique economic environmental and cultural challenges that this country faces. The Government has undertaken a number of new initiatives in the science sector including for example the establishment of Callaghan Innovation the Primary Growth Partnerships and theNational Science Challenges. Now is a good time for a stocktake in the overall shape of the science system to consider where investments should be made in the next 5 to 10 years and to consider further opportunities to enhance the impact and effect of our overall investment.Tim Macindoe: How is the Government supporting high-quality scientific research in New Zealand? [Interruption]Hon STEVEN JOYCE: They love to hear about it on the Opposition benches. I mentioned in answer to the primary question that the Government will be investing around $1.5 billion in 1 year in 2015-16 which is an increase of more than 70 percent since 2007-08. As part of that in Budget 2014 the Government is committed to increasing its investment in contestable science with $56.8 million over 3 years starting from 2015-16. Contestable science funding is an important component of the overall system and it is critical to increasing innovation and economic growth. This announcement continues a commitment to keep significantly growing the science investment budget in tough fiscal times to position New Zealand well as an innovative small country on the global stage.Dr Megan Woods: Why does he continue to refuse to reintroduce full-scale research and development tax credits given that industry has identified them as the best incentive for encouraging private investment in research and development and the draft National Statement of Science Investment states that across a range of measures New Zealand’s connections between research and businesses are poor?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member should actually read the draft because we put more into business research and development than a tax credit ever would—$140 million - odd a year. I appreciate that the only thing that Opposition members have to say on this subject is on research and development tax credits but after announcing it for about the eighth time you would think they would think of something new.