Simpson Scott: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 12 March 2015. Volume:703;Page:2216. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Minister for Small Business: What steps is this Government taking to support growth for small business?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Minister for Small Business): Small businesses are the backbone of the New Zealand economy. This Government has taken a number of steps through the Business Growth Agenda and the Better Public Services targets to support growth for small businesses. Another initiative is the regional business partners programme which aims to deliver a service valued by small and medium sized businesses in the regions across New Zealand. In the 6 months to 31 December 2014 the Regional Business Partner Network has worked with over 1500 businesses looking to grow and innovate providing one-off advice and information such as raising awareness of the support available to them simplifying guidelines and communications and improving the consistency of services delivered to small and medium sized enterprises.Scott Simpson: What reports has the Minister seen that show that there is growth in small and medium sized businesses?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I have seen a number of recent reports that confirm there is growth among small and medium sized businesses. The ANZ Business Outlook report stated: “Business confidence is buoyant … Businesses remain very optimistic … [and as a result] a net 22 per cent expect to be investing more.” The report also talked about business growth being strongly correlated to GDP growth. New Zealand’s GDP growth of 3.2 percent and strong GDP growth in the regions of New Zealand will give small and medium sized businesses even more confidence to grow under the policies and economic management of this Government.Scott Simpson: What factors would stifle the growth of small business?Hon CRAIG FOSS: There are a number of factors that would remove flexibility and stifle the growth of small businesses. They include adding complex new taxes which would stifle the growth of small businesses; enforcing and making compulsory unionised workplaces which would stifle the growth of small businesses; and reducing the ability of small businesses to employ people for trial periods would stifle their growth. If we want small businesses to grow and hire more Kiwis the last thing they need is those initiatives which are promoted—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Barbara Stewart: Can the Minister list his five favourite regulations benefiting small business from the 1246 statutory regulations gazetted in the 50th Parliament?Hon CRAIG FOSS: Well I might find that there are probably a whole lot more than five but I suppose they are the rules and regulations in and around small business; creating a low tax environment; simplifying the tax system; bringing our accounts into surplus to keep interest rates lower; the 90-day trial system which is covered in regulations—I could go on but it is a Thursday. I suggest that the member could look at the Business Growth Agenda in which she would see 350 actions of which over half are now well completed.Jacinda Ardern: Will he consult the Small Business Development Group the panel of small-business owners who advise Government on small-business issues on their view on current ACC levies at their next meeting on 15 April?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I can pre-empt that. I have been in discussions with members of that group and they are very thankful for the $1.5 billion of ACC levy reductions that are now locked in from 2012 to this year. So the Small Business Development Group is quite pleased with the moves we have done to make ACC financially sustainable and of course to bring the levy reductions into play.Jacinda Ardern: I will be verifying that. Can the Minister confirm that of the approximately 31 patsy questions he has asked himself this term—Hon Steven Joyce: 32 including yours.Jacinda Ardern: No 31 I added the extra—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do not want to have to deal with—[Interruption] I do not want to have to deal severely with anybody on the Government side of the House at this stage of proceedings. The member might want to start the question again.Jacinda Ardern: Yes I am happy to. Can the Minister confirm that of the 31 patsy questions he has asked himself—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not believe that there is any such procedure in this House for the asking formally of a patsy question. There is however an opportunity for Opposition parties to ask questions but of course they do not because they do not like the answers particularly in this case. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have been in the House somewhat longer than Mr Brownlee—not much—but I have heard many many patsy questions asked in question time.Jacinda Ardern: I am going to start again. Can the Minister confirm that of the 31 patsy questions he has asked himself not one has included anything substantive to reduce the cost of doing business; if so will he accept our suggestion that he use his next patsy question to announce a reduction in ACC levies?Mr SPEAKER: Again the Minister the Hon Craig Foss can answer either of those two.Hon CRAIG FOSS: Well technically I have not asked myself any questions actually but I wait with pleasure every day when the member gets up and asks me questions about small business because it is such an easy hit. Everything that that member talks about on Labour’s policy be it voting against $1.5 billion of ACC cuts capital gains tax compulsory unionism—you name it—compliance frenzy the member can shake her—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have heard enough.