Shaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 April 2016. Volume:713;Page:10457. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes I do.James Shaw: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealand is not a tax haven because “New Zealand has full disclosure of information” when it comes to foreign trusts?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes.James Shaw: If New Zealand has full disclosure of information why does Antipodes Trust Group describe New Zealand foreign trusts as offering limited reporting requirements where the identity of the settlor and the beneficiaries need not be disclosed?Mr SPEAKER: No again we have just transgressed into exactly the territory we were in before. If the member wants to ask a question about full disclosure do so. But do not use the question to pry into any member’s return of pecuniary interests.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Last week we had questions in the House about statements on websites by other law firms that were offering services to people to set up foreign trusts in New Zealand. These organisations like Covisory Partners Ltd and so on are very similar to Antipodes Trust Group and I do not see why we should exclude Antipodes Trust Group from the same line of questioning as we had last week just because the Prime Minister has an account with them.Mr SPEAKER: Because I suggest then that members refer to the two Speakers’ rulings that I gave—Speakers’ ruling 172/1 and Speakers’ ruling 171/4. They describe quite adequately the role of the Prime Minister in answering questions. It is not an opportunity for members to use questions to any Minister to then pry into the register of pecuniary interests.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I have ruled on the matter. I will allow the member to rephrase his question so that it is in line with the Standing Orders.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I have ruled on the matter. If it is a fresh point of order I am very keen to hear it. But if it is in any way again just disagreeing with the decision I have made—James Shaw: I am seeking clarification.Mr SPEAKER: Well that is really not the purpose of a point of order. The way forward—and I have given the member an opportunity to move quickly to a question and rephrase it in a way that it meets my requirements.James Shaw: I am rephrasing the question then.Mr SPEAKER: I am giving the member the opportunity. Rather than ruling it out I am giving the member—James Shaw: Does he agree with Antipodes Trust Group that New Zealand foreign trusts offer limited reporting requirements where the identity and settlor of the beneficiaries need not be disclosed?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I would need to see that statement in context with all the other positions.James Shaw: Does he agree with Antipodes Trust Group that potential foreign investors are available to use their services because client information is kept strictly confidential?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is not for me to comment on the advertising of a particular private sector company.James Shaw: Has he spoken to anybody at Antipodes Trust Group in the last 2 weeks?Mr SPEAKER: The right honourable Prime Minister insofar as there is prime ministerial responsibility—insofar as there is.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Not in terms of prime ministerial responsibility no.James Shaw: So does he agree that it is correct that client information is kept strictly confidential?Mr SPEAKER: Again I cannot see how that relates in any way to prime ministerial responsibility.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am simply extending a line of questioning started by my colleague Julie Anne Genter last week. The Prime Minister said that there were a number of law firms that were incorrect in their statements on their website. I am just trying to determine—Mr SPEAKER: Well if the member wants to rephrase the question in a way that satisfies me I will give him an opportunity.James Shaw: So does the Prime Minister stand by his responses to questions last week that law firms including Antipodes Trust Group Covisory Partners and so on are incorrect in the statements that they make on their websites in relation to foreign trust law in New Zealand?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I was not asked about that particular firm last week.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Shaw put a generic category of firms and then included Antipodes Trust Group. The answer came back from the Prime Minister: “I was not asked about that particular firm last week.” That cannot be the answer to a question that included more than that firm as Mr Shaw put it.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will hear from the Prime Minister.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member made an assertion about a particular firm and said that that was what his colleague had asked me last week. She did not ask me that last week.Mr SPEAKER: And that was the answer that was given.James Shaw: Does he think it matters whether or not New Zealand fits the legal definition of a tax haven if it is being marketed as one or used by people from overseas as one regardless of its legal definition as a tax haven?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: New Zealand is not a tax haven. I had a discussion with the Inland Revenue Department commissioner this morning about exactly that point and she confirmed to me as well that New Zealand is not a tax haven.James Shaw: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a point of order from James Shaw. [Interruption] Order! I have a point of order from James Shaw.James Shaw: My question was not whether or not he thought that New Zealand was a tax haven it was whether it mattered whether it was thought of as a tax haven.Mr SPEAKER: And again the question in my mind was addressed particularly when I refer to Speaker’s rulings 191/3 and 4. When you ask a very general question like that as a primary question you have got to allow some latitude in the subsequent supplementary questions and the answers that might be given.