Carter DavidMr SPEAKER: Honourable members we have sat for a total of 535 hours this year. That would seem any amount to me and I have no intention of taking it along any further. Can I thank all members quite genuinely for their cooperation during the year. I think the members in this House have shown much more respect both for this institution and for each other when I compare it with last year and I want to acknowledge that and thank members for doing so but I do recognise that when we come back next year 2017 is an election year so I anticipate a bit of more combative debate but that is part of our democracy and I respect that. Can I join with all other members who have thanked the very people who make this place work. I will not repeat it but this place is served by a very large number of people who make it work—my thanks to each and every one of them. Can I specifically acknowledge my presiding officers team—Chester Trevor and Lindsay. I think we work well as a team and I thank them for that. I want to just mention the two organisations for which I am the responsible Minister. To the Office of the Clerk and particularly to you David Wilson as Clerk and to Raf Gonzalez-Montero as the deputy—the year in my opinion has gone very smoothly helped as we all know by the glue in that office Andie Lindsay. To all who work for Parliamentary Service—and I want to also include in that obviously the electorate agents who are out there in various parts of the country sometimes working in quite isolated positions. They are the ones who field the questions from our constituents. They meet and assess their concerns and I just think many of them do a sterling job and they need to be mentioned because they make our jobs as members of Parliament possible. In talking about Parliamentary Service I want to acknowledge its general manager David Stevenson. Under his leadership Parliamentary Service is going through a real transformation. The organisation is starting to live up to its name. It is about servicing the requirements of members of Parliament and sadly in the past that was not always the case. In that regard I do want to thank the Press Gallery for its cooperation over the past month. The recent earthquakes shook the confidence of many of those journalists and their employers with regard to continuing to occupy the Press Gallery. I respect that. I come from Christchurch and I remember the way people were generally unsettled with continuing after-shocks. Parliamentary Service moved very rapidly to find alternative accommodation. It is not ideal but I give an assurance that over the Christmas break I will work with Parliamentary Service to see whether we can find a more permanent and suitable solution for the Press Gallery to carry out what is a vital role in this democracy—scrutinising the actions of members of Parliament.My final specific thanks goes to my own office: Lisa Kinloch Oliver Whitehead and Roland Todd. We are a pretty small team but we have a lot of fun and most importantly we get the job done. So to all members of Parliament: enjoy your break. When we return in 2017 I suspect we will be in election campaign mode from the very start. To members: take the time to reconnect with family and friends. This lifestyle is not easy on family; we know that. So take a decent break. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and safe travels for those of you who are travelling.Motion agreed to.Mr SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 7 February. See you later.The House adjourned at 4.30 p.m.