10. Todd Barclay—Southland Electorate Office Allegations Prime Ministerial ConductCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Prime MinisterTodd Barclay—Southland Electorate Office Allegations Prime Ministerial Conduct10. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Prime Minister: Why did he tell the House on 21 June with regard to the Todd Barclay matter I do not know what the dispute was or how it was settled"?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Prime Minister): Because I was not a party to the employment dispute or the settlement. The extent of my involvement was as the former MP for Clutha-Southland. I did not then or now have any ministerial responsibility for this matter.Chris Hipkins: Why did he tell the House that he did not know the dispute had been settled when his own text messages reveal that he knew Glenys Dickson had received a settlement payment "larger than normal because of the privacy breach."?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I just repeat my answer to the previous question. I was not a party to the employment dispute. I was the former MP for Clutha-Southland but I had no ministerial responsibility for the matter.Chris Hipkins: Is the Prime Minister seriously arguing that if he is not a party to a dispute he does not have an obligation to tell the truth about what he knows about it?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That question is bordering on going to create disorder. I will listen again because I want to give the member a fair go but if he is in any way accusing any other member of—well I will listen very carefully to the question.Chris Hipkins: Is the Prime Minister seriously indicating that if he is not directly a party to a dispute he does not have an obligation to tell the truth about what he knows about it?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: In respect of that matter I met all my obligations to give relevant information to the people who needed to know it including the New Zealand Police as part of its 10-month investigation.Chris Hipkins: Why did he tell the House that he did not know what the dispute was about when over a year earlier he had been interviewed by the police about the matter and told them that the allegations Todd Barclay had recorded Glenys Dickson's conversations were a reason for her leaving the position?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: As I have said I have no ministerial responsibility for the matter then or now. The statements I made to the police have all been released and the member is as familiar with them as anyone else is.Chris Hipkins: Does the Prime Minister not understand that the only interpretation that can be placed on his refusal to get to the truth of the Barclay conduct is that he is participating in a cover-up of Mr Barclay's improper and possibly unlawful activities; if so what does that say about the credibility of his Government?Mr SPEAKER: There are two supplementary—Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member has alleged that the Prime Minister has participated in a cover-up. In my submission he simply cannot make that allegation in relation to another member. He said that that is the only interpretation.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I listened very carefully and that was not the question. Those words were certainly used but it was not a representation of that at all. The Prime Minister can answer the question.Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: As I said to the member I have no ministerial responsibility. It is hardly a cover-up when statements are made to the police in relation to the matters the member is raising."