Woods Megan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWoods Megan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 04 November 2014. Volume:701;Page:486. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram)to the Prime Minister: When he said “someone told me” in an answer to Oral Question 12 on 29 October 2014 regarding the transfer of information from himself in his capacity as party leader to himself as Prime Minister who was that person?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):You have got me—it was me. I did it.Dr Megan Woods: Given the Ombudsman has previously ruled in relation to the divide between party leader and Prime Minister that distinguishing between information generated in one capacity or another is primarily a matter of fact and can be established in the circumstances of a case what are the facts and circumstances that distinguish his communications with Cameron Slater as being undertaken as party leader rather than as Prime Minister?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is pretty clear if you want to go and have a look at Jonathan Hunt’s ruling that he makes it quite clear that the Prime Minister is answerable for any statements made as Prime Minister but the Prime Minister is not answerable for actions taken in a non-ministerial capacity whether as Leader of the Opposition or leader of a political party. I fondly remember Helen Clark making that distinction to this House for a very long period of time in relation to taxpayer money that was used for a Labour Party pledge card.Dr Megan Woods: What were the facts and circumstances that meant he decided that the Hon Maurice Williamson was acting as a Minister when he called the police regarding Donghua Liu even though the former Minister claimed he was acting in his capacity as a National Party MP?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is a determination that I make in relation to someone’s capacity to hold a ministerial warrant. A ministerial warrant is held by a member at the pleasure of the Prime Minister. It has got nothing to do with the demarcation line.Dr Megan Woods: When Judith Collins talked with Cameron Slater while she was a Minister was she acting in her role as a Minister?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: You will have to ask her. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I want to assist the colleague to my left.Dr Megan Woods: Given that he has implied that he has discussed with Ministers their interactions with Cameron Slater as stated in written question No. 7441 how did he have discussions with Ministers not in his capacity as Prime Minister?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have that particular question in front of me so I cannot repeat the question because I do not have it in front of me but it is quite clear that it is possible—in fact it happens all the time—for a person in my position to hold a variety of different authorities. One is as Prime Minister one is as leader of the National Party one is as MP for Helensville and one is as an individual citizen. That is exactly what Helen Clark said. The reason that Megan Woods has been put up to ask these questions is that no person who was around when Helen Clark was—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order!Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am just assisting the member to get some silence before I hear the point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek leave in regard to the Prime Minister’s answer to table the Sigmund Freud 1921 thesis on the mental condition of people who talk to themselves.Mr SPEAKER: And we are not about to waste time by putting that leave.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Speaking to the point of order—Mr SPEAKER: I have dealt with that matter. If the member wants to raise—[Interruption] Order! I have dealt with that matter. Question No. 12 Todd Barclay. [Interruption] Order! Can the House please settle so we can get—[Interruption] Order!