A major delegation from the UK Parliament is set to visit Bermuda next month.

And on the agenda will be the long-awaited White Paper on the rewrite of relations with the UK's Overseas Territories and a twin-pronged international crackdown on tax havens.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is cross-party -- but the delegation will be made up of members of the UK's ruling Labour Party.

And the visit will provide a major opportunity for Bermuda to state its case for keeping off the multi-national Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's hit list of dodgy offshore jurisdictions.

And the five-strong UK Labour team -- led by veteran Labour backbencher Jack Ashley, now a Peer, is also set to discuss what the Overseas Territories will be offered in the White Paper.

The Royal Gazette exclusively revealed earlier this week that full UK citizenship was on the cards for the colonies.

And -- contrary to early fears -- the deal will not include a two-way deal so UK-born citizens can move to the Overseas Territories.

As reported in The Royal Gazette , the White Paper is likely to be unveiled early in the New Year -- and certainly before the House of Commons rises for its Easter break.

Also likely to be included is access to British university and college education -- possibly at the same rates paid by domestic students in the UK.

One of the UK CPA delegates, Glasgow MP Ian Davidson, whose late uncle was a golf pro in Bermuda for many years, said: "It's not a formal delegation -- it's more to pick up what's happening on the ground.

"We're coming because the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is all about Parliaments visiting each other. We had been due to visit Bermuda -- but the trip was postponed a couple of times because of the Bermuda General Election.'' While here, the delegation will meet with Government, the Opposition, Governor Thorold Masefield and visit the Houses of Parliament.

And Mr. Davidson confirmed that the OECD probe into "harmful tax regimes'' and a similar investigation by the European Union would figure in the talks.

He added: "My understanding is that the final draft of the White Paper has been submitted and is now subject to political rewriting.'' Mr. Davidson declined to comment on what might be contained in the document.

But he said: "I think the people of Bermuda in general will be happy with it.'' POLITICS PTL