10. Digital Services—Ministerial Correspondence on Appointment of Chief Technology OfficerHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of State ServicesDigital Services—Ministerial Correspondence on Appointment of Chief Technology Officer10. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of State Services: How many undisclosed emails through former Minister Clare Curran's private Gmail account are there that relate to the appointment of the Government's Chief Technology Officer and what is the content of those emails?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of State Services): I'm advised that Clare Curran has already publicly released those emails that relate to the meeting that she had with Derek Handley. As part of the process of retrieving all relevant emails and transferring them to the appropriate agency any other emails that relate to the appointment of the Chief Technology Officer will be identified. That work has not yet been completed.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Why did the Minister tell the House yesterday that the Prime Minister's office has looked into the issue of the other emails and has he been briefed on that Prime Minister's office work?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Because I'm aware that the Prime Minister's office has had discussions with both the former Minister and the staff who worked in her office about the process that will be used to ensure that all relevant information has been captured. I have not been briefed in detail on that.Hon Dr Nick Smith: What specifically has he been briefed on by the Prime Minister's office on those secret emails?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: My office has been in discussions with the Prime Minister's office to ensure that I am aware of relevant information particularly to answer the questions the member is putting to me today.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have to date used eight supplementary questions including a question on notice to simply establish the content around these important issues in respect of the Government appointment of the Chief Technology Officer. I think there comes a point when it's appropriate for the Speaker to stop the obfuscation by the Government.SPEAKER: Well the member's asked a series of questions. My view is that he's had very succinct and accurate answers—well I'm not going to judge the accuracy but sufficiently detailed answers which are very clear to all of them.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My primary question asked how many undisclosed emails—SPEAKER: No no. Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. Does the member have further supplementaries?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The supplementary question was on what has he been briefed and he then said his office had briefed him. Now that doesn't answer what he was being briefed on.SPEAKER: Well actually he said he was receiving the briefing necessary to answer the question.Hon Dr Nick Smith: What specific information has the Minister received on the private undisclosed emails from the former Minister on the appointment of the Government's Chief Technology Officer?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In preparation for the question yesterday and today I was advised around the process that will be used to extract those emails and to ensure that they are appropriately archived.Hon Dr Nick Smith: How can the Minister fulfil his responsibilities for the appointment of the Government's Chief Technology Officer without knowing exactly what communications had occurred between the former Minister and the preferred candidate?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I do not believe that I am in that position.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Is the Minister aware of any communications on this matter between the Hon Clare Curran and the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I don't have responsibility for the communications between Clare Curran and the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern.SPEAKER: No I'm not going to accept that answer. The Minister does have responsibility for the communications of his predecessor.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes.