care and child abuse ran into procedural problems on Wednesday.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott citing Senate rule 39, moved to have the upper house debate the Final Report of the Health Care Review and the Report of the Task Force on Child Abuse next week.

However, Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said rule 39 only referred to bills and not to motions.

Senate President Albert Jackson (Ind) admitted the reports had been carried over for some time while the Senate waited for debates on them in the House of Assembly.

He said debate on the issue will take place at the next meeting.

But Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) asked the Senate President for clarification on his stance, claiming that Sen. Milton Scott's interpretation of the bill was wrong.

Government Senate Leader Lynda Milligan-Whyte then placed an order to vote on the matter.

But Sen. Milton Scott cited examples where Sen. Milligan-Whyte had suspended rule 39 to continue a motion.

And Sen. Scott added that he did not see why they should deviate from custom and practice.

Sen. Swan pointed out that both of the matters in question were listed on the order papers "in front of us'' and requested that the matter be put to a vote.

Sen. Jackson acknowledged that both motions were listed on the orders of the day and while conceding that the two items had been standing for some time he admitted that he saw the necessity to debate them at the earliest possible time.

After defending his stance, Sen. Milton Scott suggested that Sen. Jackson seek advise on the matter since he did not want to see a "mockery'' of the Senate rules.

Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) also expressed concern about the delay in debating the two items.

Pointing out that the Senate would be debating the Budget for the some time, Sen. Oughton said discussion about the motions may not take place until the summer.

"We won't discuss it until May 1997, if we are lucky,'' he said.

Sen. Jackson set aside the matter to allow him time to take advisement. He said his ruling would be submitted at the next meeting of Senate.