debate on Parliamentary pay.

National Liberal Party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell accused them of "arrogance'' and acting in a "ridiculous'' way.

"It must be difficult for members of the public to understand the lack of sincerity and regard some of the Opposition members have for their fellow men.

"How could the members of a political party that calls itself a party of the people demand such compensation for a part-time occupation?'' Parliamentarians recently awarded themselves a 27.7 percent pay rise over two years.

Mr. Darrell said many of the PLP's supporters worked 40 to 50 hours a week to take home the pay an MP enjoyed with no "confirmed commitment''.

And he suggested MPs' salaries in future be set down in law.

The question of the size of the House of Assembly had also been raised by the pay debate, said Mr. Darrell. He asked whether dedicated, rather than part-time, members were now more preferable.

Mr. Darrell was fiercely critical about the recent Budget debate, saying there was still no attempt to make it more productive.

"The discussion on the floor is no more than the `take note' motion the House has become famous for; talk into the early morning with a great deal of repetition and go home. The NLP supports the call for Ministry statements to the House containing meaningful information about the Department.

"The revelation that Government spent money to pave 100 feet of road does not have to be revealed by the Minister, but in an information document submitted to members of the House. A Budget debate should be just that, and not an opportunity for politics and rhetoric.'' Mr. Darrell repeated his party's call for Government to produce audited accounts on all its activities.

"If a public company such as Belco, Telco, BCL or BAS, went year after year with no audit, you can be sure something would be done.'' Mr. Darrell said the 21 percent increase in civil servants since 1980, from 3,827 to 4,654 -- was a clear example that the United Bermuda Party had no intention of decreasing the cost of Government.

"Evidently, Government believes throwing money at our social and economic problems is the solution with the Opposition calling for still more money every step of the way.''