Premier Alex Scott has now officially received the United Kingdom's recommendation for how its Overseas Territories should decide the question of Independence and will discuss it with his Cabinet.

The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday that UK Overseas Territories Minister Bill Rammell recently distributed a policy memorandum to all OT Governors which stated a referendum was the favoured choice of the British Government - although Mr. Scott said he had not received the release by Press time on Sunday and was not willing to comment.

Mr. Rammell said that the UK had to be satisfied that any territory that decides to become independent was doing so "on the basis of the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the people" and that the "presumption" of the British Government was that a referendum was the most appropriate way of "testing" this.

"I am now in receipt of the correspondence from Mr. Rammell about the subject," Mr. Scott said.

"It should be noted Mr. Rammell does say that the methodology of determining the move to Independence whether by referendum or General Election will be done on a case by case basis.

"Additionally, backing for the Government's creation of a uniquely Bermudian solution in the formation of the Bermuda Independence Commission has drawn words of support from the Governor. I have every expectation that Bermudians will continue to express themselves and formulate distinctive responses to our diverse challenges in all regards."

Pressed on whether the Mr. Scott would continue to advocate a General Election as the Government's preferred method of decision, Government Communications Director Beverle Lottimore said the Premier would be speaking at greater length on the issue once he has "fully discussed" the situation with his Cabinet colleagues.