e-commerce world capital will be tabled in the House of Assembly today.

Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb -- also in charge of e-commerce -- will bring the bill to MPs.

The bill -- one of the first in the world -- will make electronic transactions as legally binding as standard ones.

It also provides for a code of conduct to be drawn up by industry members to govern the hi-tech business.

It is expected the bill will be debated within the next two weeks -- before Parliament stands down for the summer.

Also on the agenda for today is a bid to allow Government to write off outstanding debts from Government books.

At present, bills seriously overdue can only be axed from official accounts up to a maximum of $600. The new bill would remove the limit.

Acting Minister of Finance Alex Scott said: "It doesn't mean we won't strive to pursue them, but we would be able to tidy up the books.'' The move is in line with recommendations by independent Auditor Larry Dennis who called for debts outstanding for years to be removed from Government accounts to give a clearer picture of finances.

An amendment to the Companies Act will be tabled by Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister in the absence of Finance Minister Eugene Cox.

The bill makes "housekeeping'' changes to the Act, bringing it into line with practices elsewhere in the world.

This includes the abolition of the rule requiring a person who bought shares after being misled by a company having to rescind the contract of purchase before suing.

And a corporation which holds shares as a nominee would be able to appoint multiple representatives who could separately vote the shares of each person for whom the nominee acts.

MPs will also be asked to approve draft regulations allowing the fees for marriages by captains of Bermuda-registered ships to be set at the same level as on-Island ceremonies.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson will make a Ministerial statement announcing Bermuda's list of protected wetlands -- up to a dozen -- in line with international treaty obligations aimed at preserving such areas.

Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome will also make a statement to the House -- but details could not be obtained last night.