5. Question No. 5—Economic DevelopmentHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for Economic DevelopmentQuestion No. 5—Economic Development5. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by his statement in the House yesterday that There is a long long list of projects in the Government pipeline of infrastructure projects including housing and roads and schools and health and rail—far too many to take up all the time of the House recounting" and which of these projects if any will begin before the general election?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Economic Development): Yes I do. However I remind the member again that responsibility for the Government's infrastructure pipeline rests with the Minister for Infrastructure and individual projects with the relevant portfolio Minister. In terms of the second part of the question although I do not have ministerial responsibility I am advised that a number of projects are already under way. For example the Minister of Education advises me that construction has started on approximately 200 school rebuilds or expansions with a combined value of over $1.4 billion. He also advised me that at the end of May around 1200 schools have initiated projects worth an estimated $130 million since the school investment package was announced. I'm advised by the Minister of Housing that there are now 4600 additional public homes with many more in various stages of construction. I'm advised by the Minister of Transport that construction is under way on around 40 State highway projects across New Zealand.Hon Judith Collins: Which of the roading projects that he alluded to yesterday as being in the long long list of projects will start before the election if any?Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This is a question to the Minister for Economic Development who may also happen to be the Minister of Transport but the question is to the Minister for Economic Development and as he made quite clear in his primary answer he is not responsible for individual projects in other portfolios. [Interruption]SPEAKER: No I don't think I need any help. Having listened very carefully to the primary answer the Minister for Economic Development did make it clear that he had been receiving advice from the Minister of Transport on transport policies and therefore it is fair to ask him the extent of that advice.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The Minister of Transport advises me that since lockdown alone we've started construction on State Highway 51 Clive safety improvements in the Hawkes Bay; upgrades to the Northland line—that's $200 million from the Provincial Growth Fund—preparatory works for the Matakana link road; State Highway 16 Huapai to Waimauku safety improvements; the Medallion Drive link road in Auckland; State Highways 10 and 11 Puketona intersection improvements project; and the New Zealand Upgrade Programme. And that's just since the lockdown ended.Hon Judith Collins: Which of these projects that he's just listed are new projects and which had already been announced before the lockdown?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: They'd all been announced since before the lockdown but I would say they're not just projects that were put out in a press release which is what we saw from the former Government. They're projects that have been announced designated planned and funded and now they're under way.Hon Judith Collins: Does he agree with the 1 April statement of the infrastructure Minister "the Government does not wish to see red tape stymy our eventual recovery" and that the Government is seeking projects that would have "an immediate stimulatory effect" and if so why aren't there more?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I agree completely with the Minister for Infrastructure on that and there are a lot more coming in the pipeline.Hon Judith Collins: And when are they coming then?SPEAKER: Order! The Hon Judith Collins.Hon Judith Collins: And when are they coming then?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: All in good time."