child abuse and then told their invitations had been cancelled.

Conference organisers banned Mr. Nelson Bascome, PLP Health and Social Services spokesman, and Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward because they feared political "grandstanding''.

Now, after protests from the MPs at their treatment, organisers are reconsidering an invitation made to Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, who is due to give a welcoming speech at the event.

The National Symposium on Children at Risk is planned for October 8-9 at the Princess Hotel, Hamilton, "under the auspices'' of the National Drug Strategy and the Coalition for the Protection of Children, a new group hoping to recruit members.

The event is the brainchild of Southampton resident Mrs. Margaret Hern, crime expert Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper, and NDS officials. The two MPs were to have been panel members.

But Mrs. Hern said: "We wanted to involve Mr. Bascome and Mr. Hayward because they are important in the field, but at subsequent meetings we thought it would be better not to involve people who were elected officials.

Mrs. Hern said the invitation to Mr. Edness was in a different category to those made to panel members, as his role was to be ceremonial. But the invitation might now be reconsidered, she said.

She stressed the politicians were still welcome to join the 150 people set to attend the conference.

Another organiser, NDS official Mr. Alastair Macdonald, said: "We were trying to make this a non-political forum. We feel that the issue of child abuse is a very, very sensitive issue.

"Although I believe that the two individuals will not have a tendency to grandstand, we don't want to create that opportunity.'' Mr. Macdonald denied there had been any Government pressure on the NDS to cancel the MPs' invitations.

Mr. Bascome, who works as a counsellor, said: "I take offence, especially in my professional capacity, that I am being turned down because of my political affiliation.'' Mr. Hayward said he was disappointed and embarrassed. "The way it's been done caused them to perhaps be more political than had they gone ahead and let us speak.'' Mr. Edness declined to comment.