Labour's claims on fund a facade

Labour's claims about its much-trumpeted innovation fund have been exposed as a façade bereft of critical structural substance, say National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter and the party's Research, Science & Technology spokesman, Paul Hutchison.

The pair are referring to the responses of Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton to a series of written questions on the fund.

"I am horrified at the lack of substance, detail and planning that Jim Anderton has revealed," says Mr Carter.

"This comes on top of his fudging around the level of funding due to go into the scheme."

Jim Anderton has confirmed that:

o The specific structure has yet to be formulated.
o The investment strategy and priorities have yet to be worked out.
o The intellectual property aspects have yet to be worked out.
o The precise workings of the fund including 'how it will work' are still being worked on by officials.

"This is confirmation that Labour and Jim Anderton grossly over-cooked the detail that had gone into the scheme and, that behind the scenes, officials were running around like headless chooks," says Mr Carter.

"This is a huge slap in the face for the primary sector which has been severely neglected by Labour for years.

"At least Labour has finally recognised its lack of commitment to and funding of agricultural research over the past nine years."
Dr Hutchison says the policy-on-the-hoof approach is unbelievable given the importance of the issue.

"It's very clear now that the timetable set by the Government is not credible. At each level, the structural, scientific, intellectual property and marketing considerations require enormous work which hasn't been done."

David Carter and Paul Hutchison say National will unveil its own plan for a real step-change in investment in science, technology and research and development in the coming months.

"We will make long-term funding commitments which provide real certainty to the sector."

Parliamentary Questions 02186, 02187, 02189 & 02192

Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:56:29 PM
To: Paul Hutchison;
Subject: 02189 (2008) Published - Agriculture - Normal Reply Auto forwarded by a Rule

Question: Have the precise workings of the Fast Forward Fund been developed; if not, why not?

Portfolio: Agriculture
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:18/03/2008

Answer Text: No. The precise workings of the Fast Forward Fund are being developed by officials, and the precise workings of the collaboration are being developed in partnership with industry. The fund itself will likely be administed by a Crown company.

Date Received:02/04/2008

Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:56:29 PM
To: Paul Hutchison;
Subject: 02187 (2008) Published - Agriculture - Normal Reply Auto forwarded by a Rule

Question: How will the 'Fast Forward Fund' work over the next ten to fifteen years?

Portfolio: Agriculture
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:18/03/2008

Answer Text: How the Fast Forward Fund itself will work is part of the advice currently being prepared by officials. The intention is for a Fund to deliver an income stream through returns and running down of capital. An independent board including Government and private partners will decide upon strategic priorities and direct the income stream to programmes to deliver upon those priorities.

Date Received:02/04/2008

Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:56:29 PM
To: Paul Hutchison;
Subject: 02186 (2008) Published - Agriculture - Normal Reply Auto forwarded by a Rule

Question: What is the specific structure of the proposed 'Fast Forward Fund'?

Portfolio: Agriculture
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:18/03/2008

Answer Text: Officials are currently preparing advice on the structure of the Fast Forward Fund itself (that is, the government investment), with initial Cabinet decisions expected in April 2008. This is likely to be a Crown company. The structure of the Fast Forward collaboration initiative is currently being worked through together by government officials and industry representatives.

Date Received:02/04/2008

Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 10:57:02 AM
To: Paul Hutchison
Subject: 02192 (2008) Published - Agriculture - Normal Reply Auto forwarded by a Rule

Question: Have the intellectual property aspects of the Fast Forward Fund been finalised; if not why not?

Portfolio: Agriculture
Minister: Hon Jim Anderton
Date Lodged:18/03/2008

Answer Text: No. Government and industry are working together to determine the intellectual property aspects of the initiative.

Date Received:02/04/2008