9. Health Services—Mental Health Services National Bowel Screening and TargetsHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of HealthHealth Services—Mental Health Services National Bowel Screening and Targets9. Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) to the Minister of Health: What are his priorities in the Health portfolio?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Better health for New Zealanders. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Which district health boards are having the roll-out of the National Bowel Screening Programme delayed? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have announced today a review of the bowel screening programme and that is in order to seek assurance that New Zealanders can expect the bowel screening programme to roll out as it has previously been announced. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: Why did the Taranaki Daily News of 18 January report him as saying that the national bowel—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member can start again and start with an area for which he is responsible. Why a newspaper reports him saying something is not his responsibility. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: OK. Why has he said as reported in the Taranaki Daily News on 18 January that there is a delay to the national bowel screening roll-out nationally because of insufficient funds to run the programme"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm advised that they have printed a retraction because they misquoted me. Matt Doocey: Why will he not start accessing the $100 million contingency fund for mental health given that he campaigned on more funding and the results of his mental health inquiry won't be available until the end of the year? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: As I have previously made clear to this House in the Budget documents that the previous Government passed shortly before it left office not a single dollar was appropriated in the health portfolio for mental health initiatives. This Government believes that mental health is a priority. It will not take us nine years to make mental health a priority. Matt Doocey: In light of those nine years why after so long in Opposition to prepare a plan for mental health does he not have initiatives and a plan ready to roll out now? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I will educate the member. We have announced already that we will fund primary healthcare better so that people can have affordable access to care earlier for mild to moderate mental health conditions. We have announced that we will do nurses in schools to make sure that people have access to mental health support and we have announced also that we will launch an inquiry into mental health services that will report back with further initiatives. We're well ahead of where they were after nine long long years. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: What specific instructions has he given to the district health boards to improve access to elective surgery or to decrease emergency department waiting times or to ensure progress against the national cancer treatment target—what specific instructions? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: That sounds more like a leadership speech than a question. But I have been very clear and I expect to be very clear in the letter in expectations that I write as to what I expect from district health boards to deliver. I have inherited from the previous Minister a number of documents that went unsigned during his tenure. At least now we have some expectations in place. Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. A very straightforward question—I asked him what specific instructions had he issued. SPEAKER: Well I think you got an answer which included none. Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm happy to clarify that answer. SPEAKER: No."