Shadow Finance Minister Eugene Cox is set to call for changes to House of Assembly rules on Parliamentary questions.

Mr. Cox spoke out after submitting questions to Government opposite number Grant Gibbons.

The Shadow Minister said he got written answers -- but was time-barred from asking supplementary questions yesterday morning after the congratulations and condolences part of the day's business dragged on past the 11 a.m. deadline.

Mr. Cox demanded answers to three questions -- whether Dr. Gibbons would table a "final report on the feasibility of establishing a comprehensive Unemployment Insurance Scheme for Bermuda.'' And he asked for a breakdown in the $60,000-a-year bill for Premier Pamela Gordon's official residence in Warwick and who owned the property.

He also wanted to know how much February's Chief Ministers of the UK Dependent Territories Conference cost Government.

But Mr. Cox said he had planned to ask supplementary questions on whether the residence for the Premier would become a permanent arrangement in the future, or whether it was a one-off because of security fears over protecting the Premier while she lived in her family home in Pembroke.

He also added that the answer on benefit "did not answer my question.'' Frustrated Cox vows to change rules And he said: "Either Government or the Opposition could sabotage that up to 11 a.m. when no questions will get answered orally. And supplementary questions are often the real ones.

"I was a bit disappointed I didn't get a chance to ask further questions.'' But he said he would be raising the problem with the House and Grounds Committee, of which he is a member.

Dr. Gibbons' written reply to the unemployment payouts said that then Finance Minister David Saul had told the House in 1993 that Bermuda's workers and businesses could not support two sets of contributions for pensions and unemployment benefit.

He added that it was decided the needs of senior citizens came first -- but pointed out that financial assistance and housing allowance programmes had been given a cash boost to $11 million in 1993.

And Dr. Gibbons said the following year saw a $400,000 fund established to pay for a termporary employment scheme.

He added: "In light of these considerations, Government sees no need at this time to bring a report on feasibility of establishing a comprehensive Unemployment Insurance Scheme to this Honourable House.'' But Mr. Cox said he had been promised a report on unemployment insurance in 1991 -- and that he did not regard Budget statements as a satisfactory reply.

Dr. Gibbons also wrote that the Premier got $5,000 a month to pay for a house rented from the St. George's Trust -- and that both sides of the House had approved a $72,000 annual vote for a Premier's residence. The Budget estimated cost was $60,000.

He added that was broken down into $2,100 in rent for an unfurnished residence, plus $2,900 in monthly costs for utilities, land tax, insurance, gardening and housekeeping expenses.

Dr. Gibbons also said the Chief Ministers' conference bill amounted to just under $50,000.