Davis Kelvin: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDavis Kelvin: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 29 July 2015. Volume:707;Page:5427. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.KELVIN DAVIS (Labour—Te Tai Tokerau) to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his answer during Oral Question No. 9 yesterday that “No I have not received any reports” which contradict the official account of the number of attackers in the Littleton serious assault case?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Corrections): Tēnā koe. I stand by what I actually said in the House yesterday which was that I had received no reports that contradict the press release of Ray Smith on 23 July. The press statement is backed up by the key interim findings of the chief inspectorate’s report and as I have said consistently those matters are covered by a wide review into prisoner violence in Mt Eden Corrections Facility which I announced on 19 July.Kelvin Davis: So what reports on the incident has he received and who was it who briefed him?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I received a report on the incident by my corrections staff. That was given to me in the last week.Kelvin Davis: Is he aware that prisoner Littleton’s sister has released a tape in which Alex Littleton states: “There were three that were attacking me and one was on the door. Serco know this. I told them all of this. They even wrote it all down. They’ve got all the names too. I named all the people to them that actually did it.”?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I am not aware of that tape but what I can say is that the statement by the chief executive was in regard to the allegation by that member of dropping. For the sake of clarification and in the public interest Mr Smith released key interim findings of that report: that Mr Littleton fell over the balustrade and was then attacked by one offender at Mt Eden prison. What I accept is that sadly Mr Littleton was attacked and he suffered injury.Kelvin Davis: I seek leave to table an excerpt of the transcript of the tape-recording between prisoner Littleton and his sister in which he makes this statement recorded on Thursday 23 July this year.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The document has been described. I think that on this occasion I will put the leave and it will be for the House to decide. Leave is sought to table this particular transcript. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Kelvin Davis: Why has it taken him until this week to be briefed on this serious issue when it has been raised for months now?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I am not aware that it has been raised for months—[Interruption] Well hang on—what I am aware of is that the member did write in a letter of 10 March but did not detail an offender’s name. However as I said at the time to the member the matter was subject to an investigation by a New Zealand inspector. I am happy to table the member’s letter.Kelvin Davis: How is it that he seems always to be the last person to know about these issues? Does he care or is he OK with sticking his head in the sand and letting corrections try to sort it all out by themselves?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I categorically reject that assertion.