suppress public concern over institutional child abuse.

Mr. Hayward, responding to demands that he substantiate claims about physical abuse at Bermuda day nurseries, accused Government of suppressing public fears on the issue, which he said were "bigger than we have been led to believe''.

Mr. Hayward has been under attack for the last week after claiming he reported child abuse at nurseries several years ago. After Government Ministers and civil servants denied receving any reports, he withdrew his statement.

But Mr. Hayward hit back yesterday. He said: "The issue of institutional child abuse has reached such proportions that a non-Governmental agency has formed and parents are seeking legal help in order to protect their children.

"It must now be obvious to even the most casual observer that when parents have to band together and hire a prominent lawyer to protect their children, the issue of child abuse is bigger than we've been led to believe.

"Certainly a lot of parents have reported problems their children have experienced.

"Judging from the action these parents have taken in hiring a lawyer, they have been dissatisfied with the way their concerns have been handled by the Minister and other officials.'' Mr. Hayward said that going back to 1983, Government recognised that regulations dealing with day care were inadequate.

But he said recommendations from in-house reviews and outside failed to change the regulations.

Giving examples of problems, Mr. Hayward said: "Statistics on child abuse are not adequately collected and those collected are kept relatively secret.

Without adequate and accessible statistics the extent of the problem can remain hidden.

"The Child Protection Act has desperately needed revision for over a decade.

Mr. Edness has been publicly promising revisions for several years but nothing has materialised so far.

"Likewise the nursery school regulations are inadequate. Revisions to these have also been promised but not delivered.

"Meanwhile reports of abuses continue and, even if there is medical verification of abuse, the Ministry appears unable or unwilling to prosecute or shut the facility.'' Mr. Hayward said his concerns have been backed by the Coalition for the Protection of Children and the newly-formed Parents Against Nursery and Day care Abuse.

He said: "Continued attempts by Health Minister Edness to silence any public discussion of these issues is part of the reason the problems have reached such proportions in this community.

"The community would be far better served if the energy that is being spent trying to suppress expressions of public concern were spent actually providing services to these children and their families or bringing the perpetrators to justice.'' A 24-hour hotline has been started for parents of abused children amid continuing controversy over Bermuda day nurseries.

Callers will be offered counselling and therapy from professional staff.

The 295-1150 line has been set up by the Coalition for the Protection Children.

Said co-chairman Ms Margaret Hern: "It is for concerned parents who feel they need help in any way. Counselling and therapy will be offered for both parents and children.''