LONDON -- Bermuda's Premier could win the right to speak before the House of Commons under a law being considered by the British Parliament.

And when British Prime Minister Tony Blair calls a general election, Bermudians could also go to the polls to elect their own delegate to the House of Commons.

Both proposals are contained in a private member's bill being sponsored by Labour Party MP Andrew MacKinlay, who admitted yesterday that the Representation of Dependencies at Westminster Bill had little chance of passing.

But the ideas are being seriously considered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the House of Commons select committee on Foreign Affairs.

"This is very unlikely to become law,'' Mr. MacKinlay said. "It is more in the vein of campaigning legislation aimed at giving dependent territories a greater say.'' The bill would enable registered electors in Bermuda and each of the rest of the dependent territories except Gilbraltar -- to choose a delegate to the House of Commons on the same day that British general elections are held.

The delegate would have the right to speak on matters relating to Bermuda, foreign affairs and defence issues and matters "materially affecting'' Bermuda.

The delegate would not have the right to vote.

The bill would also allow the Premier or the Chief Minister of a dependent territory to address the House of Commons. The leader -- or a person designated by the dependent territory's legislature -- would speak as a petitioner approved by the Speaker from the ''bar'' or entrance to the debating chamber.

Mr. MacKinlay said the bill was aimed at highlighting the fact that the dependent territories had no direct recourse to the British Parliament, but could only deal with the British Government through their Governors and the Foreign Office.

"There is a growing awareness of the fact that there is a democratic deficiency with regard to the dependent territories,'' he said. "For example, the Foreign Secretary was just speaking in the House of Commons (on the situation in Iraq) and we tend to forget that he is also Bermuda's Foreign Secretary.

"There are critical decisions taken here and the dependent territories are entitled to some representation. In the United States, places like Puerto Rico have delegates with some rights and that is the model that I had in mind when I tabled the bill.

"People thought I was barmy when I first mooted the idea, but the Foreign Affairs select committee are now looking at it and so is the Foreign Office.'' Mr. MacKinlay, who is a member of the House foreign affairs committee, said the bill could help to defuse controversies which periodically erupted between dependent territories and their Governors.

"If a Governor, for example, felt he had to dissolve an assembly, this bill would give the legislators a place where they could put their side,'' he said.

"Even though this bill has no chance of becoming law, with the Dependent Territories Association Conference this week, this is a chance for the dependent territories to pick this up and say whether they are in favour of it.

"If they are, I would hope they would return home, canvass the idea and pass resolutions in their legislatures in favour of it -- and do it soon.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said in London last night that the idea would be seriously considered.

"I think this could be an interesting factor in helping to elevate the new relationship that the British Government wishes to have with the dependent territories,'' he said.

"But we have not had a chance to discuss it in detail.'' Both Mr. Cook in his speech tomorrow and the Commons foreign affairs committee are expected to support the idea of some kind of representation for the dependent territories but are not expected to specify what form it should take.

Parliamentary officials said yesterday that a proposal reported in The Royal Gazette last week for a member of the House of Lords to speak on dependent territories issue was also being considered.