Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 29 May 2013. Volume:690;Page:10477. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes.David Shearer: Does he stand by the statement made on his behalf about the Kitteridge report: “The Prime Minister can give a categorical assurance that neither he nor his office leaked the report. He does not believe for a moment that his Ministers or their offices leaked the report either.”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes.David Shearer: In light of his statement that “It’s a very sensitive document that wasn’t widely distributed.” was the Hon Peter Dunne a recipient of that report?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: My understanding is yes.David Shearer: Has the Hon Peter Dunne given David Henry who was investigating the matter an assurance that neither he nor his office made the report or any part of it available to any member of the media?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am not party to any conversations that Mr Dunne has had with Mr Henry but what I have seen is Mr Dunne’s categorical assurance that he in no way leaked that report.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The leader of the Labour Party specifically asked in respect of not just Mr Dunne but his staff and it is the same ambit that caught a previous Minister in respect of whether they had responsibility for a leak or otherwise. The Prime Minister deliberately avoided answering the question as to whether Mr Dunne’s staff was involved.Mr SPEAKER: I do not recall I am sorry the mention of the staff. I recall the question being about Mr Dunne having a conversation with Mr Henry and the Prime Minister clearly saying he was not party to that. But on the basis that there is an assurance from the members to my left that the word “staff” was included in the question I will invite the Leader of the Opposition to ask the question again.David Shearer: Has the Hon Peter Dunne given David Henry who is investigating this matter an assurance that neither he nor his office made the report or any part of it available to a member of the media?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: To repeat my first answer I am not privy to the conversations that Mr Dunne has had with Mr Henry. I am aware of the statements that Mr Dunne has made where he has categorically ruled out that he had played any part in leaking the report. If the specific question is about Mr Dunne’s staff I have had no conversations with them at all nor seen any statements because they would not be requested. But you are inquiring about the chief of staff for Mr Dunne who is Rob Eaddy. He is person of absolute integrity and I would be absolutely stunned if he played any part in leaking the report.David Shearer: Has the Prime Minister had any discussions with Peter Dunne about the leaking of the report and sought any other assurances from him also?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No because that is not necessary on a number of fronts. Firstly Mr Henry is conducting an inquiry on behalf of Mr Kibblewhite and Mr Fletcher. When that report is received in the fullness of time you will be able to see that. Secondly Mr Dunne has given a categorical assurance that he played no part in leaking the report. Thirdly the member is playing the same game that Mr Peters was in trying to use parliamentary privilege to make scurrilous—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister first of all told us he did not know the full circumstances and then he makes allegations—vile false and totally unacceptable to Parliament. He should have been stopped in his track.Mr SPEAKER: The Prime Minister was asked whether he had had recent discussion with Mr Dunne. He clearly answered that. He added some political connotation to the answer—it was after all a political question.David Shearer: Did Peter Dunne give his assurances to David Henry under oath?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am not party to that and I am not aware of the answer to that.David Shearer: Was the decision of National MPs to block the Rt Hon Winston Peters’ line of questioning in the Finance and Expenditure Committee today done under the direction of him or the members of the committee?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question asked whether it was done under his direction or under the volition of the other members of the committee. The answer cannot be “No.”Mr SPEAKER: It was a two-part question; the answer can clearly be “No.”Hon Trevor Mallard: Well it’s an either/or. It’s not a—Mr SPEAKER: Order!David Shearer: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The answer “No.” was to either one part of the question or the other. I do not know to which one he had answered “No.”Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member asked two parts in the supplementary question. The Prime Minister has clearly answered one part to my satisfaction.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There were not two parts to it. There was one that was an either/or and “No.” is not an answer.Mr SPEAKER: I have ruled that the Prime Minister satisfactorily addressed one part to that question. [Interruption] Order!Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a different point of order.Mr SPEAKER: If it is a different point of order I am happy to hear it.Chris Hipkins: If you are indicating that in your view it was a two-part question and that the Prime Minister addressed one part—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Oh that’s different?Chris Hipkins: —no it is a different point of order.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The point of order will be heard in silence.Chris Hipkins: The previous Speaker has indicated that where a Minister chooses to address one part of a question the Minister does need to indicate which part of the question they are addressing.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have ruled that the matter has been addressed. To raise further points of order will lead to disorder. I invite the member to continue his line of questioning.David Shearer: Let me ask the question again. Was the decision of National MPs to block the Rt Hon Winston Peters’ line of questioning in the Finance and Expenditure Committee this morning done under the direction from him or his office or of their own volition?