Premier Jennifer Smith's reading of a massive review of the Civil Service clashed with one of her own Minister's statements in London.

And last night Tourism Minister David Allen admitted he had given the wrong impression of a Civil Service Review in a speech to the Bermuda Society in London.

In a faxed copy of the speech from the Tourism Ministry, Mr. Allen clearly said that the review included examination of the size of Cabinet and Parliament -- which Ms Smith later denied was the case.

Ms Smith -- who appeared to be unaware of what one of her top Ministers had said -- admitted she had not read The Royal Gazette either.

And she told the House of Assembly on Friday: "Just because it was quoted in The Royal Gazette does not mean that it is correct.

"It is outside the role of the Civil Service Review to examine the role of the constitution.'' But Mr. Allen -- in an address to a meeting of the Society, made up of influential British residents with interests on the Island -- said the opposite.

Mr. Allen said: "The recent far-reaching review of the Bermuda Civil Service commissioned by the Bermuda Government has also addressed the question of the size of our Parliament and Cabinet, with a view to how, through such constitutional changes, we may better serve the people of Bermuda as we stand at the threshold of the new millennium.'' Premier's Chief of Staff Lt. Col. David Burch last night steered clear of the confusion and was unable to assist in clearing up the apparent Cabinet communications foul-up.

And the Premier's spokeswoman from Government Information Services could not be contacted last night.

But Mr. Allen yesterday said he had been quoted accurately -- but that he had inadvertently given the wrong impression in his speech, which in part focussed on the PLP's first year.

Mr. Allen said: "I think in my eagerness...,I condensed several points in one paragraph and that is the paragraph you're talking about.'' He added: "When one talks about making Government more efficient and reviewing how it's set up, if you talk about any amalgamation or redefining of how the Ministries are laid out, you may be talking about how Cabinet is structured as well.

Allen admits he gave the wrong impression "These are constitutional matters and the Civil Service Review was merely looking at the overall nature of how the Ministries are structured.

"But certainly the Civil Service Review had nothing to do with the size of Parliament.'' But he added: "That might have ultimately some relationship to Parliament and its size.'' The PLP's General Election platform committed the party to an end to twin-seat constituencies and the redrawing of boundaries across parish lines to create more evenly-sized electoral areas, as well as a smaller number of MPs. In 1996, former PLP leader, the late Frederick Wade, suggested 30 electoral districts with one MP each -- which would almost certainly mean fewer Cabinet Ministers.

Ms Smith spoke out in the House after she clashed with Opposition Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt.

Mr. Barritt said that MPs were led to believe that the Civil Service Review would be just that -- a review of the administrative arm of Government.

And he demanded to know whether that was the case -- and complained that the House had only learned the news from the Gazette not the House of Assembly.

Mr. Barritt said: "We think that these sort of things should be done in the sunshine of public scrutiny.

"Instead, we get it in dribs and drabs -- this drib suggests that the Civil Service Review will be looking at constitutional change and there was not a dickie bird in the Throne Speech about that.

"The information was not given to this side of the House but instead to the Bermuda Society in London.

"It was only thanks to The Royal Gazette we heard about it.'' Mr. Barritt added: "There ought to be transparency on that side of the House when it comes to these areas, these are important fundamental issues that we should be advised on -- but the information doesn't come here but to London.'' Informed of Mr. Allen's comments last night, Mr Barritt said: "This development shows that I was right and that the Premier was wrong. Minister Allen did in fact say what he was reported to have said in The Royal Gazette .'' He continued: "Under those circumstances, I feel justified in having raised the matter in the House of Assembly and in no way can it be viewed as `grandstanding' which is what the Premier accused me of.'' Mr. Barritt stood firm in his request to have the Civil Service Review tabled in Parliament, adding: "Then we'll know precisely what it does say and what is being recommended.''