In the week after a big party conference you might expect that the themes raised in Parliament would often match the talking points from that event. You would be right.
The week at Parliament is over and it's worth having a look through the major themes and events.
In the week after a large party holds an annual conference you might expect that the themes raised in the House would relate to the major talking points from that event.
You would be right.
Youth on Welfare
The National Party conference topic most picked up by the media was of young people that were out of work - and hey presto - that was also the focus in the House.
On Tuesday and Wednesday it was topic of numerous Question Time questions, and of numerous speeches in Wednesday's General Debate (and from both Government and Opposition MPs).
The main point of dispute was whether the Government was already carrying out most or all of the Opposition's new proposals.
For example, this exchange ended Tuesday's Q&A between the major party leaders:
Christopher Luxon: "Who is right: the Minister for Social Development and Employment, who has claimed National's welfare policies won't work, or the Prime Minister, who has claimed National's welfare policies already exist?"
Jacinda Ardern: "Minister Sepuloni has pointed out that labelling and blaming young people for the economic circumstances we find ourselves in will do nothing to support young people. I agree with her. She has also pointed out we have job coaching; we have incentives; we also have training incentives; employment subsidies for employers; and, the best of all, record departures from benefits."
Crime and Youth Crime
The young and jobless weren't the week's only topic.
Crime was the focus of the week's completed legislation, as Johnny Blades reported on Wednesday.
Crime, especially youth crime has been a major opposition focus for months (although the questions have lessened significantly since Chris Hipkins became Minister for Police). But the theme has not disappeared - ACT asked ram raid questions in the House twice this week.
It has also featured in major speeches - for example just two weeks ago the new National MP Sam Uffindel devoted parts of his maiden statement to the topic, lamenting "a growing culture of lawlessness, lack of accountability, a sense of impunity."
It was fortunate for National that this wasn't their chosen conference focus. Mr Uffindel's history certainly moved it to the front burner regardless. …