Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:634;Page:5755] 
5.  
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she stand by her statement to the House on 16 May 2006 with respect to the Ingram inquiry that: “Inquiries must always take the time required to get to the root of the matter.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How well did the Ingram inquiry get to the root of the matter when Noel Ingram “found no evidence to support an allegation that Mr Siriwan or Ms Phanngarm were promised work in New Zealand.” yet Mr Siriwan has sworn an affidavit claiming that Taito Phillip Field promised him that if he went to work for Mr Field in Samoa he would be issued with a work permit for New Zealand? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Evidence of course is more than allegation and I understand that the inquiry did speak to Mr Siriwan. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How effectively did the Ingram report get to the root of the matter when Noel Ingram reported that: “Mr Field was unable to recall precisely when he did discover that Mr Siriwan was working on the house.” and when Mr Siriwan has sworn an affidavit saying that he did a deal with Taito Phillip Field to go to Samoa in March to work on Mr Field’s house in return for Mr Field obtaining a work permit for Siriwan here in New Zealand? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: There are clearly conflicting statements that the police will need to address in their investigation. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How effectively did the Ingram report get to the root of the matter when Noel Ingram concluded: “The evidence does not support a finding that Mr Field knew that Mr Siriwan was working on Mr Field’s house …” when he met with the Associate Minister Damien O’Connor on 17 May 2005 yet Sunan Siriwan has sworn an affidavit confirming that he did a deal with Taito Phillip Field to go to Samoa in March to work on Mr Field’s house in return for Mr Field obtaining a work permit for Siriwan here in New Zealand? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: There are clearly conflicting statements that the police will need to address in their investigation 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How effectively did the Ingram report get to the root of the matter when Noel Ingram concluded: “I found no evidence that Mr Siriwan was influenced in his behaviour by the fact that Mr Field was a Minister.” and when Mr Siriwan has now stated publicly that he went to Samoa “because Taito Phillip Fields—he’s a Minister. He promised me to come to work on his house and then he will give me the visa to return to New Zealand.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I repeat that Mr Siriwan had the opportunity to speak to the inquiry and did not make those allegations then. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: How well did the Ingram inquiry get to the root of the matter where the conflict existed or appeared to exist between Mr Field’s private interests and the use of his influence as a Minister when Sunan Siriwan has now sworn an affidavit alleging he was told what to say to the Ingram inquiry and was under duress to say what he was coached to say? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: That affidavit of course has been referred to the police who are making investigations.