Premier Alex Scott warned MPs on Friday not to expect too many new bills in the coming year because he said Government was concentrating more on policy than legislation.

In a speech outlining achievements in his first year as Premier, Mr. Scott said priority would be given to getting bills already in the Attorney General's chambers properly drafted rather than introducing a whole slew of new laws.

The next step on the road to the "New Bermuda" the Progressive Labour Party was trying to create was concentration on the social agenda, said Mr. Scott.

"This year will see a policy driven rather than a legislation driven Speech from the Throne," he said.

"This does not mean legislation will not be presented next year, but as far as possible, we will not be pushing the Attorney General's chambers to draft new legislation.

"Instead, legislation presently in various stages of completion within ministries and the AG's Chambers will be completed and brought forward during the upcoming year.

"This paradigm shift will allow Government to refocus the legislative process to ensure that we deliver on initiatives as set out in the Speech from the Throne within the time frame that we promised to deliver."

Mr. Scott said the delays were not due to bureaucratic inefficiency, but because his policy of wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders had generated feedback which sometimes held up drafting of bills.

But this was a welcome sign of democratic development, he said.

"The next significant step along the road to the New Bermuda is the social agenda. This is where the have's in Bermuda will continue to have and the have not's will have more," he continued.

The PLP had spent some of the "political capital" of its initial popularity improving the quality of life on the Island by taking tough decisions which had upset some groups.

Saying there would be "bumps on the way," he said a discussion had been started on independence, gaming machines had been removed, and Government was committed to getting controversial GPS technology installed in taxis.

Government was committed to transparency and was working on a public access to information bill that should be completed in October and then tabled in the house of Assembly.

Mr. Scott outlined what he said were a series of significant firsts achieved in the past year which had advanced the country.

An Ombudsman's Act was tabled yesterday which gave citizens the right to have their complaints against Government investigated and adjudicated.

The 1978 Parliamentary Election Act will be amended to allow Bermudians who are overseas to vote.

The Criminal Code is being amended to make insider trading and market manipulation an offence. And the Bermuda Monetary Authority Act will be altered to allow the BMA to share information with overseas regulators while upholding the principles of client confidentiality.

There was a new drive at attract African American visitors, and the Ministry of Transport had secured 19 extra weekly flights taking the number of flights to a record 118 each week.

Bermuda Health Council will be formed, workers will be protected through the Health and Safety Amendment Act, and the troubled St. Monica's Mission area was being revitalised.