Business Statement

When the House resumes on Tuesday, 28 August the Government will look to complete the third reading of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill, the first reading of the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill, Part 2 of the Alcohol Reform Bill, and any other partially completed Government bills. Wednesday is a members’ day, and the Business Committee has agreed to extend hours on 29 August for a debate on the Social Services Committee Inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders, and the second readings of the Legislation Bill, the Identity Information Confirmation Bill, and the Electronic Identity Verification Bill.

Is the Government going to make it clear to the House whether it is its intention to move on Thursday next week to any part of the alcohol legislation, and to make it clear that there will be conscience votes on both Wednesday and Thursday in the House, which is quite an unusual situation?

The House will deal with the Committee stage of Part 2 of the Alcohol Reform Bill on Thursday, and the decision about how votes are cast is, of course, between the parties and the Speaker.