Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Robson Matt: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:627;Page:21824] 
4.  
Hon MATT ROBSON (Deputy Leader—Progressive) 
 to the  
Minister for Industry and Regional Development 
: What reports has he received on the progress made in meeting agreed objectives following the provision of a Government grant to Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and what do these reports indicate? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister for Industry and Regional Development) 
: 
 I have seen a report from the  
New Zealand Herald  
that describes the Government’s $1.5 million investment in global services company EDS’s Best Shore programme as “pretty shrewd”. In March 2003 the Labour-Progressive Government announced a partnership programme with EDS to ensure that it would develop a major client contact and software development centre here in New Zealand. The funding was dependent on EDS creating 360 new information and communications technology jobs in New Zealand over 3 years. In the last 2 years up to the end of May EDS had already created 279 high-quality sustainable jobs and approximately $28 million of extra revenue up to December 2004. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Why does the Labour-Progressive Government believe that partnerships with larger companies should be part of its economic development policies benefiting all regions including that represented by Mr John Key? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: New Zealand relies on just 160 companies out of a total of 300000 in New Zealand—or 0.053 percent—for over 80 percent of our entire foreign exchange earnings. That has and does put our economy at risk especially if a whole industry sector such as agriculture or forestry suffers any major setback. Without supporting the development of New Zealand businesses including larger companies like EDS we will not sustain let alone improve our living standards. 
Mark Peck 
: Why would any Government want to work in partnership with any large company? 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: In discussions that I and the Government have had recently with leaders of many European nations that have very impressive growth records—Norway Finland and Sweden to name just a few—we found that they work with all companies but particularly they partner the large and innovative companies in their economies because they believe that those companies lift all boats in the economy. That is our experience too. I have to say that if the two members who criticised this move Mr Rodney Hide and John Key ever got near this Government—or any Government—then that kind of innovative development would cease forthwith. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Why would the Government work in partnership with any large company? 
Hon Members 
: We’ve had that one. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would members please be quiet. Would the member like to rephrase his question? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker— 
Hon Matt Robson 
: Thank you Madam Speaker. To err is human; to forgive divine. Is there any reason— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Sorry there is a point of order now and I know what it is—off we go. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No you do not—unless you are clairvoyant Madam Speaker. When Mr Robson sat down after the honest part of his question it signified that his question was over. We do not allow people a second try on a second question when they have so absurdly got it right the first time round. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No I am sorry. You are quite right. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. It is a new point of order. It is quite often the case that to get a satisfactory answer we have had to ask the same question twice three times and four times and every time we do that it is deducted from the number of questions that we have. The Hon Matt Robson had finished his question it was clear to me that he felt he had not had a satisfactory answer and I fail to see why there should be one rule for Government MPs and another rule for Opposition MPs. He had his question he asked it and it is now up to the Minister to answer it. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a new point of order. It is not against the Standing Orders to ask the same question twice. So I will ask the Hon Jim Anderton to reply to the question. 
Hon JIM ANDERTON 
: This Government works constructively with all industries and companies in New Zealand in the interests of the economy and people of this country which is why this economy is now more successful than at any time in the living memory of most people in this House.