Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9633] 
9.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she have confidence in the Minister of Health; if so why? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes because she is a hard-working and conscientious Minister. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If she is such a hard-working and conscientious Minister why is she a Minister who says that the efficacy of Alzheimer’s drugs has not been proven when Canada UK Australia USA Latin America and Western Europe all make those drugs publicly available; or is this just another example of inexcusable inexplicable heartless cost-cutting? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: No none of the above. This country has very careful mechanisms for assessing what drugs it is appropriate to fund and I am not aware that those mechanisms and procedures have changed substantially in recent years at all. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why does the Prime Minister not inform herself of the facts before she rises and makes a statement like that when Canada UK Australia USA Latin America and Western Europe—nearly all the First World—recognise that those drugs do work and make them publicly available whilst her Minister is demanding that Pharmac do a trial to find out what everybody else in the world knows and is prepared to spend money on excepting her heartless Government and Minister? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I can only repeat that getting value for money is very important and that does not mean paying any price for any drug that a pharmaceutical company wants. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that these drugs are the only treatment available to patients with Alzheimer’s and why will they not be funded? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I suggest the member put down a question on notice with specific reference to the question of Alzheimer’s drugs. It is this Government’s determination to provide proper treatment for people across the range of conditions. It is also a fact that we consider health sufficiently important to have it as a front-bench portfolio. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister might think that health is important enough to have it has a front-bench portfolio but being informed about it is not what she is demonstrating today. She should not—having attempted to answer two questions already—then pretend that she has adequately answered this House by suggesting that the member “put down a written question”. She has been asked why the only drug proven worldwide is being denied to the thousands of sufferers in this country and— 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Speaking to the point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No I have not finished yet. Sit down! I am on my feet. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will please be seated. He does not have to be rude. He had not finished; I was going to allow him to continue. Would he please continue? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the member is within a point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No. My point of order is that the rudeness commenced with the Prime Minister thinking she could rise to her feet when a point of order was being properly made. If you want to point to rudeness then you should point to her. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will make the decision on that. The Prime Minister rose thinking that the member had finished. The member had not finished and I was going to let him carry on. Would the member please carry on. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You can make any defence for her you like but the reality is— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This is not a point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: The reality is that I was making a point of order. I had not finished and you have accused me of rudeness when that accusation lies properly with the Prime Minister. I want to continue on when you properly—what you should have done—call her to question and accuse her of rudeness not me. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member is wrong. He will carry on with his point of order or he will leave. Would the member please carry on with the point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If that is the way I am treated I am not interested in carrying on with the question.