Bermuda's taxpayers may no longer have to foot the bill to keep foreign criminals in the Island's jails, if a Bill on the repatriation of prisoners meets the approval of legislators.

The Bill - the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 2002 - would extend to Bermuda the provision of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

It is the only piece of proposed legislation to be debated in the House of Assembly today.

Some 40 countries have agreed to the Convention, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Bahamas an the United States.

It allows for prisoners to serve the rest of their sentences in their country of normal residence, with their consent.

Costs of repatriation are to be paid by the country to which the prisoner is being transferred, but the Attorney General may recoup the money from the prisoner under certain conditions.

There are more foreign prisoners in Bermuda than there are Bermudians in foreign prisons, according to the Bill's' explanatory notes.

"I think it will be a longish debate because it is an issue all people can relate to," ruling party whip Ottiwell Simmons said.

Three Ministerial statements will also be delivered during today's sitting.