Members' Bills Statistics

Joshua Grainger made this Official Information request to Parliamentary Counsel Office

The request was successful.

From: Joshua Grainger

Dear Parliamentary Counsel Office,

The 2011 BIM mentions that PCO will draft members' bills if instructed to do so by the Attorney General, so I am requesting some statistics regarding the amount of Members' Bills that the PCO drafts under the Official Information Act.

1) I'd like to know, from the beginning of the term of the 49th Parliament to present, the names of all members' bills that have had drafting input by the PCO.

2) If a bill that had drafting input by the PCO either hasn't made it to the ballot yet, or was withdrawn before being put in the ballot, can I please receive a brief explanation of what the purpose of the bill either was to be, or is going to be?

Although not required under the Official Information Act, I understand that it is often helpful to explain what the purpose of a request is. The purpose of my request is to get a better handle on what types of members' bills PCO is expected to draft: for example if PCO drafted any bills that National did not vote for.

Feel free to contact me if you want to clarify my request.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger

Link to this

From: Contact PCO

Dear Johsua

Thanks for getting in touch. This is just an acknowledgement - I hope to reply to your questions shortly.

Kind regards
Gillian McIlraith
Communications Adviser

show quoted sections

Grainger <[FYI contact email]> wrote:

show quoted sections

Parliamentary Counsel Office Te Tari Tohutohu Paremata

Level 12 Reserve Bank Building 2 The Terrace
PO Box 18 070
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 472 9639 Fax: +64 4 499 1724
Website: www.pco.parliament.govt.nz Free access to NZ legislation: www.legislation.govt.nz

The information in this email (including any attachments) may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. If the information has been given a security classification, it must be handled in accordance with that classification.
If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not read, copy, use, or distribute its contents. If this email has been received in error, please contact the sender and delete the email immediately. Thank you.

Link to this

From: Contact PCO

Dear Joshua

Thanks for getting in touch. I should point out that the Parliamentary Counsel Office is not subject to the Official Information Act 1982. However, we are happy to provide the information you are looking for.

In reply to your questions:

1) The following 6 Members' Bills that were (or still are) before the House from the 49th Parliament onwards have received drafting assistance from the PCO:

Sustainable Biofuel Bill - Jeanette Fitzsimons
Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill - Paul Quinn
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill - Roger Douglas/Heather Roy
Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill - Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi
Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill - Amy Adams
Employment Relations (Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill - Tau Henare

2) The PCO does not provide drafting assistance for Members' Bills that have yet to be entered in the ballot, or not been successful in the ballot, or have been withdrawn from the ballot.

Kind regards

Gillian McIlraith
Communications Adviser

How well did we respond to your question? Please let us know, by clicking on the link to complete our quick survey ( http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCO-enquir... ).

show quoted sections

Grainger <[FYI contact email]> wrote:

show quoted sections

Parliamentary Counsel Office Te Tari Tohutohu Paremata

Level 12 Reserve Bank Building 2 The Terrace
PO Box 18 070
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 472 9639 Fax: +64 4 499 1724
Website: www.pco.parliament.govt.nz Free access to NZ legislation: www.legislation.govt.nz

The information in this email (including any attachments) may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. If the information has been given a security classification, it must be handled in accordance with that classification.
If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not read, copy, use, or distribute its contents. If this email has been received in error, please contact the sender and delete the email immediately. Thank you.

Link to this

From: Joshua Grainger

Dear Gillian,

I just wanted to thank you for answering my request. I didn't realize the PCO wasn't under the OIA, as I didn't see the exemption under the definition of "department." You've been very helpful even though there was no legal obligation, and I think that deserves special thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Grainger

Link to this

From: Contact PCO

You are very welcome!
cheers
Gillian

show quoted sections

Grainger <[FYI contact email]> wrote:

show quoted sections

Parliamentary Counsel Office Te Tari Tohutohu Paremata

Level 12 Reserve Bank Building 2 The Terrace
PO Box 18 070
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 472 9639 Fax: +64 4 499 1724
Website: www.pco.parliament.govt.nz Free access to NZ legislation: www.legislation.govt.nz

The information in this email (including any attachments) may be confidential and subject to legal privilege. If the information has been given a security classification, it must be handled in accordance with that classification.
If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must not read, copy, use, or distribute its contents. If this email has been received in error, please contact the sender and delete the email immediately. Thank you.

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Parliamentary Counsel Office only: