Opposition Finance spokesman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin blasted the PLP for being a ?spend and spin government? recklessly wasting money without delivering on housing and other social programmes.

In her official reply to the Budget speech she said the Government had upped spending by 11.3 percent this year with no thought for taxpayers who had funded a 400 percent increase in Government travel costs since 1998.

Meanwhile the PLP had dithered on housing and were now setting aside $25 million in funds with no real plan in place.

She said there was uncertainty how the Harbourside project would be revived and when it would ever be finished.

Government was only now setting up a Housing Initiative Team to address chronic needs, noted Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, eight years after being elected.

?The emergency housing units, imported six months ago, are still not utilised. What is the problem??

Her party had a plan to put 100 houses at Tudor Hill and also to provide tax incentives for each homeowner who builds an extra apartment within the qualifying criteria for affordable housing.

Such homeowners would be spared land tax for the next year on the completed, occupied new addition and there would be tax relief on materials for construction of affordable housing.

The four percent rise in pension money only gave seniors a one percent rise given the inflation rate noted Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin.

And she said the rise in free prescription money amounted to just $12.50 per month extra.

?Prescriptions can only be obtained at the behest of a physician.

?Since HIP only covers two doctors? visits a year, many seniors cannot go to the doctor because they do not have the money to pay the fee.?

She said it was a cheap option for Government ? the illusion of inclusion and too little, too late.

?We have heard further promises that the seniors residence in St. George?s will be completed in the fall of 2006.

?This is another project that required further funding as the total authorised figure increased from $20.7 million in 2005/06 to $25 million and no telling when it will be completed.?

While her party were proposing tax cuts to allow people to spend their own money, Government spending was hitting an all-time high at $806 million this year with the taxpayer handing over more than $200 million more than needed in the last four years.

?There have been no measurable austerity approaches that you would expect of a Government that claims to be frugal and prudent.

?The civil service is growing exponentially and costs are escalating commensurately. This wanton spending on empire building has proven to be anything but frugal or prudent.?

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin also attacked the declining standards in education despite the $114.7 million being pumped into schools.

Graduation rates were less than 55 percent said Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin who called for teacher licensing and measurement of school performance. Those calls received vocal support in the chamber from Government backbencher Renee Webb who told later there needed to be accountability in the system given the amount of students failing.

Ms Webb also backed Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin?s cry for a tourism authority and a call for a halt to plans to cut out wider channels for cruise ships in Hamilton and St. George?s.

The Opposition finance spokesman said visitor spending had fallen by $128 million under the PLP with air arrivals down 27 percent.

She said: ?We need an awful lot of Jet Blue?s to bridge the gap of this slippage.?

Answers were needed on the failure to land a deal for Club Med said Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin who mocked the ideas for a French quarter which she said was a substitute for the failing African Diaspora Heritage Trail.

She also derided Government?s plans to set up a London office which she found odd given the PLP?s desire to go independent.

?Is the PLP intent on cashing in on the alimony before the divorce?

?We do not want to see a London office opening while Hamilton shops are closing.?