Mr. Speaker, there are many deserving questions on the Order Paper and I know that ministers are working assiduously to provide competent accurate and full answers to all the questions.
I know that the minister of fisheries will have heard the representations of the hon. member today and I am optimistic that soon we will have an answer for him.
Perhaps we could go back to my original point on Starred Questions Nos. 97, 98, and 100, please. The answers are as follows.
The information held by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on the band council's expenditures is contained in the financial statements supplied by the band. The information is confidential financial information from a third party and as such cannot be disclosed without the band's consent under the terms of section 20 of the Access to Information Act.
With respect to Starred Question No. 98, I should advise that the answer is identical to that in No. 97.
With respect to Starred Question No. 100 the answer is as follows.
It is not possible for us to verify the percentage of 13.6 per cent. The band's budget increased in part as a result of the introduction in 1991 of the new funding formula for the economic development program.
The band's funding for social assistance also increased as a result of the band taking over the delivery of social assistance to all beneficiaries on reserve in 1992. Moreover the funding for the post-secondary program has also increased.
I ask that the remaining questions stand.