Progressive Labour Party MP Derrick Burgess has called on Government to stop ignoring its own backbenchers.

Mr. Burgess told the The Royal Gazette that legislation was already `a done deal' by the time the backbenchers saw it meaning that they were then clueless when constituents asked about bills.

The issue of the role of supporting MPs came up at the Commonwealth Seminar yesterday.

Asked whether the backbenchers should be involved more Mr. Burgess said: "I certainly believe that.

"Because the backbencher was elected along with the cabinet, the cabinet was not the cabinet when it was elected.

"The cabinet certainly needs the backbench to pass the bills.

"We are part of Parliament, and I am certainly not really all that satisfied with the way the Westminster system is -- where the backbenchers are thought of as less than a cabinet minister.

"But they need us because we are the eyes and the ears of the cabinet and we represent people.'' Mr. Burgess was asked how backbenchers could be involved more.

He said: "A lot of decisions or the bills that are passed they need to run by the backbenchers first, for our input, because we do have a constituency we have to answer.

"And it is very difficult to answer to the constituent when you really had no input into the bill.

"When you do get involved it's almost a done deal.

"You certainly see it before it goes to the House but it's just about too late, unless there is something that is really drastic and the whole thing has got to be withdrawn.

"At that time it almost a done deal and I am selling it to you instead of `what do you think about this?' or `what is your input?' There's a difference.

"People don't know what you have on the backbench unless you test them, there's a lot of talent within Bermuda, within the backbench not being used, so you've got to use it.'' But fellow MP Delaey Robinson said: "We have a caucus every week.

"And the Premier set up a set of meetings for all members of caucus to meet with her one on one -- I believe that was monthly.

"Much of that depends on the member. The Premier has simply opened the door and said `if you want to meet me then I am available to you'.

"That tends to be the case with ministers too.

"Many ministers will stop whatever they are doing and have given instructions to their staff that if a member calls then put them right through.

"So we are fairly well treated by the executive in terms of access and there's an opportunity to thrash it out at caucus on a weekly basis.