A shake-up of Bermuda's bureaucrats could mean outside experts being drafted in at senior levels of the Civil Service, it was revealed yesterday.

And top civil servants might be sent out on secondment to the private sector to gain new experience.

The news came as Premier Jennifer Smith announced that the draft report into Civil Service organisation -- carried out by UK experts -- had already been circulated to top bureaucrats.

Both the current UK Labour Government and the previous Conservative ones used outside advisors on secondment from the private sector -- which caused resentment in the top reaches of the British Civil Service.

But Ms Smith said Bermuda civil servants appeared keen to adopt new practices -- including stints working elsewhere.

She added: "Having spoken to some members of departments, they would be quite willing to engage in that kind of exercise.'' But she said: "We are waiting to have the final report and do things in accordance with that.'' Ms Smith hinted that the Civil Service Review paper would contain proposals for a radical shake-up -- but declined to discuss details.

She said: "We've had the draft document. There are lots of things in it -- that's the answer you will get from me.'' But a taste of things to come may have been seen with the special task force set up to tackle the Y2K bug in Government.

Civil servants and a Bermuda Electric Light Company expert will work together to ensure Government computers switch over to January 1, 2000, without problems.

Draft copies of the review have gone to senior Government officials and private sector groups like the Chamber of Commerce.

Ms Smith said: "I was very pleased with the draft. I believe it provides us with an outline of where Government can go in the 21st century.

"If we embrace all the recommendations, I believe we will be in a good position.'' Ms Smith was speaking after she revealed she would be joining a three-strong team of Ministers at the British Labour Party conference, currently being held in Bournemouth.

Premier to boost Bermuda at UK Labour conference Bermuda reception to be held on Thursday -- travel to England herself to host the reception.

Tourism Minister David Allen, Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, and Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister travelled to England for the conference at the weekend.

Staff from the Bermuda Tourism Department -- including director Gary Phillips -- will man a Bermuda booth at the conference to drum up trade, aided by the Ministerial team and the Premier.

And Ms Smith said she may miss Baroness Elizabeth Scotland -- the new Foreign Office junior Minister in charge of Overseas Territories -- at the conference.

But she added she had invited Baroness Scotland to Bermuda -- an invitation she said she hoped would be taken up "sooner rather than later''.

Ms Smith said: "Certainly, while there, one will take advantage of the opportunity of meeting Ministers on a one-on-one basis -- an opportunity which is not available at other times.'' She added that United Bermuda Party Sen. Maxwell Burgess -- originally slated to attend the UK Labour conference with the Government delegation -- would not now be attending.

Mr. Burgess could not be reached for comment last night.

Pressing matters: Premier Jennifer Smith is off to England to help bolster Bermuda's profile at the UK Labour Party conference.