Hague Kevin: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHague Kevin: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 30 October 2014. Volume:701;Page:430. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.KEVIN HAGUE (Green)to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied that all conflicts of interest that arose by the head of Food and Grocery Council Katherine Rich being a member of the Health Promotion Agency were managed in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Entities Act 2004; if so why?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health):Yes; because there is no indication to the contrary.Kevin Hague: How specifically has Mrs Rich or the Health Promotion Agency managed her conflicts when according to the agency’s minutes she has never ever recused herself from a discussion or decision of the board even one involving alcohol sugar or tobacco?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I think that is very much the point. I have had the Ministry of Health review all those minutes and it tells me that there is nothing inappropriate in the conduct of any board member in the context of the Crown Entities Act 2004.Kevin Hague: I seek leave to table the minutes of the Health Promotion Agency board from July 2012 to July 2014.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table those particular minutes of the Health Promotion Agency. Is there any objection to those minutes being tabled? No there is not. They can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Kevin Hague: Does he agree that there is an untenable conflict of interest in the same person who submitted to the Health Committee against the plain packaging of tobacco also participating in a Health Promotion Agency discussion aimed at promoting the plain packaging of tobacco?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: No.Hon Dr Nick Smith: What conflict of interest did Green MP Steffan Browning have in advocating homeopathy as a solution to the Ebola epidemic?Mr SPEAKER: I do not believe there is any ministerial responsibility for that question.Kevin Hague: Will he ask Health Promotion Agency chair Lee Mathias why Mrs Rich was allowed to participate in discussions about junk food tobacco and alcohol when the Crown Entities Act requires members with conflicts of interest not to take part in any discussion or decision of the board relating to or otherwise participating in any activity of the entity that relates to a matter where a conflict of interest may exist?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: As I answered earlier we have had a look at those minutes. They have been reviewed by ministry officials and the advice from them is that there is no conflict.Kevin Hague: I seek leave to table a hard-copy version of a Powerpoint presentation from the State Services Commission dated February 2014 explaining to members of Crown entity boards what their legal obligations were.Mr SPEAKER: On the basis that it may not be that easily obtainable by members I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular hard copy of a Powerpoint presentation. Is there any objection to that piece of paper being tabled? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Kevin Hague: Will he investigate the Health Promotion Agency’s management of Mrs Rich’s conflicts including the role of the Health Promotion Agency chair Lee Mathias given that Ms Mathias appears to have allowed Mrs Rich to participate in discussions where her role as a lobbyist conflicts seriously with her role as a health promoter?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I disagree with the assertions in that member’s question.Kevin Hague: Does—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member still has a right to ask questions.Kevin Hague: Does Mrs Rich retain his confidence given that she has never even once declared a specific interest in any agenda item on the agendas of the Health Promotion Agency has never recused herself from any discussions or decisions and clearly has not managed her conflict in accordance with the Crown Entities Act?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: That is absolutely incorrect. When Katherine Rich applied for that position and when she was appointed she declared her potential conflicts of interest. They were recorded in the Cabinet paper. My advice to the Green Party is to stop focusing on issues that do not advance quality health care for New Zealanders; start focusing on how we are going to get increased access to quality health care across the population. That is the real issue and that is what I am focusing on as Minister of Health.Dr Megan Woods: What were the circumstances that led him to receive the direct communication from the chair of the Health Promotion Agency regarding Katherine Rich that he cited in the House last week when he said: “She has always been an ethical member of the board. As chair I have always had confidence in her contribution.”?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: The circumstances were the sustained and ridiculous personal attacks on Katherine Rich by the Green Party which prefers to focus on ridiculous stuff like treating Ebola with homeopathy rather than on the key issues facing New Zealanders in the pursuit of quality health care.Dr Megan Woods: Did he consult with any other organisations or persons regarding the suitability of Katherine Rich on the board of the Health Promotion Agency; if so which organisations or persons?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Her appointment went through a Cabinet process and all the appropriate processes were followed.Dr Megan Woods: Did the Minister consult with any other Ministers about the role of Katherine Rich on the board of the Health Promotion Agency; if so whom?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Yes; Cabinet.