Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1720] 
10.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he have confidence in his department; if so why? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Yes although there is always room for improvement. 
Simon Power 
: How is it that despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on designers and architects according to the final business case for the regional prison build it only occurred to the Department of Corrections when asking for yet more money that: “It is now evident that prison developments are atypical and for example use far more steel fabrication than a similar commercial building.” and how could they get it so wrong? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: These issues will be addressed by the independent reviews being undertaken by the State Services Commission and Treasury. 
Simon Power 
: Is he concerned that his department did not realise that a prison used more steel fabrication than other commercial buildings as mentioned in the business case; if not what exactly does it take for this Minister to be concerned about the goings-on in his own department? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: As I said we have these reviews under way. The construction of prisons has been like many other projects around the country—because of a very buoyant economy there have been many pressures on the costs of such things as steel concrete and tradespeople. 
Simon Power 
: Was he surprised then to learn that his department had blown its building budget and that one of the reasons for this contained in the document just mentioned was that legislation enacted by his own Government raised costs in areas such as the building code and the Holidays Act? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I was not surprised. However quantification of these issues will no doubt be identified by the reviews. 
Simon Power 
: Which is correct the statement in the report to the Cabinet Business Committee that: “The department is confident that no further requests for funding will be required.” or the final business case report which states: “Until such time as the CWAs are established the department will not have the ability to cap the forecast completion costs.”? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The collaborative working arrangements are now in place and I have been given an assurance that there will be no further requirement for money to complete these projects. 
Ron Mark 
: Madam Speaker could I just point out to you that my supplementary question is in line with the primary question although when you first listen to it it is definitely not in line with the line of questioning being pursued by Mr Power. How many foreign students and foreign visitors are currently serving sentences for drug smuggling drug dealing murder extortion fraud theft and forgery and does he have confidence in the Department of Corrections’ future forecasts in terms of increased numbers in the foreign inmate category? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It is a long bow but if the Minister would like to attempt to address it— 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Too many. I must acknowledge the member’s question. It is a very reasonable one and I commit to him to find the answer. Should he put it down on paper I will get the complete and accurate answer to him. 
Simon Power 
: I seek leave to table the Department of Corrections’ final business case dated 15 December 2005 where it became evident that prison developments were atypical and used far more steel fabrication than similar commercial buildings. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.