Government's budget for the upcoming financial year is a "weak document delivered by a Government out of touch, out of ideas and out of time," said Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons.

Previewing today's official Budget Reply, Dr. Gibbons said: "This Budget can be summed up in three sentences - no tax increases, as expected in order to be able to woo the voter, very large increase in current account spending (6.7 percent) which is four times the projected rate of growth of the economy and thirdly there is a record single year increase in borrowing of some $81 million."

The Reply, which is to be delivered today, will take a "broader look at the record of the Smith government since 1998".

"It's apparent that the way they have managed the economy has negatively impacted our quality of life and the reason here is that we've seen a real deterioration of our social fabric despite of their spending $2 billion over the last four years," he said. "The Smith Government hasn't addressed some of the very serious economic issues that are currently staring us in the face and those include our ageing population, rising healthcare costs, environmental remediation at the baselands and housing."

Dr. Gibbons said Bermuda's quality of life and reputation as a "well governed country" are going to be adversely affected because Government is "unprepared for the future".

"The United Bermuda Party feels that Bermuda's economy requires a different approach in the 21st Century and one of the things we will do tomorrow is lay out our own approach to better managing of the economy."

Mr. Cox is not expected to be in the House today. He was admitted to the King Edward Memorial Hospital last night for some tests, according to a Government press statement.

Community and Sport Minister Randolph Horton will take his place in the House.