according to Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul .

The Government Fees Amendment Regulations 1994 made the latest changes to the Government Fees Act of 1965.

It means increases in prices of a variety of items including applications for Bermudian status, a bookmaker's licence, storage of petrol, keeping animals, explosives and firearms.

Other inclusions are licences testing clean air, copyright, dentistry, planning, liquor, marriage, the post office, radioactive substances, and water.

Dr. Saul said most fees would increase by five percent in line with inflation, except areas of the construction industry.

He said: "In the interests of the construction industry we have decided to leave those fees there. But the others have gone in line with inflation which is reasonable.'' Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox said a number of the fees needed "to be looked at''.

Mr. Cox said: "I certainly think that the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs will be interested in Immigration. Some may think it should be higher than five percent.

"A number of people could be affected by the immigration policies and one could say that some of the fees were such that they could act as a deterrent.'' He questioned the fees for moorings which, he claimed, had risen from $25 to $50, a 50 percent rise.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott questioned whether Immigration fees, like work permit fees, reflected Government policy and tried to discourage the importation of non-Bermudian labour.

The basic fee was $1,185, but $740 was refunded if the application was refused, he said.

Mr. Scott questioned the need for the refund and said if it was discontinued, frivolous applications would be discouraged. "This is not an exorbitant fee,'' he said.

Fees for temporary and part-time work seemed low, he said.

Higher fees would discourage importation of labour while providing funds for more Immigration inspectors, he said.

Shadow Environment Minister Rev. Trevor Woolridge questioned whether the foreign fishing vessel fee of $3,000 plus $3 for each gross ton of the ship was sufficient.

With the revenues the ships were earning, could this be considered "a very nominal fee?'' he asked.

Deputy Opposition Leader Mr. Walter Roberts said the problem with most of the fees was that they did not relate to the income earned by the payee.

There should be more fees based on a percentage of revenue collected, like the fee paid by Cablevision, he said.

He questioned why the $13 firearm fee was so low, and said a skeet shooting club in Smith's Parish disturbed neighbours on Sunday mornings.

Noting the fee charged for dog licences, Mr. Roberts said cat licences should be considered.

Cats were an increasing nuisance, and "at least by having a licence for the cat, we would at least get to the stage where we'd be able to weed out those strays.'' Why was the fee for bookmakers $3,750, regardless of how much money they took in? he asked.

Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome noted a licence to import controlled drugs cost only $15, and he questioned the high cost of pharmaceuticals in the Country.

"I would hope that some kind of check and balance is in place so individuals cannot abuse the privilege of a licence to import drugs,'' he said.

On firearms, Mr. Bascome said he understood some people were licensed to bring in guns with firing mechanisms removed, to sell to collectors.

But he understood at least one such gun had been used in a crime, and there had been tampering to restore the firing mechanism. Government had to assure these licences were not being abused, either.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade , noting the $25 peddler's licence, complained that Government last year ordered peddlers off Government roadside properties, but it was his understanding they could not operate on private property without planning approval.

Peddlers should be encouraged during a recession, not prevented from operating, he said.

Moving to fees under the Clean Air Act, he asked why there were application fees, but no fees for the licences themselves.

Why was Belco not charged a fee for "the right to pollute the atmosphere,'' he asked. "There ought to be a cost and the cost should be more than $60 or $120,'' charged for applications.

Mr. Wade also questioned the $3,000 fee for foreign fishing vessels. He had heard a single fish caught by one of the vessels was sold to the Japanese for $10,000. Perhaps the fee should be based on the tonnage or the value of the catch.

He also questioned whether Bermuda could be "aiding and abetting'' Canadian fishermen who were using Island waters to break the laws of their own country, like designated fishing seasons in Canada.

Dr. Saul said Government fees were under review, and he took "copious notes'' about Opposition comments.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman had recommended a sharp hike in Immigration fees, but because of additional taxes on international companies this year, Government decided to hold off.

"That whole issue is under review,'' he said.

Extra staff, when needed, was paid for from the Consolidated Fund, he said.

For instance, it was not Government policy to pay for extra Police officers through ticket revenues.

Moving to the foreign fishing vessel fee, Dr. Saul said the type of fish Mr.

Wade referred to was rare and a cause for celebration.

Adjusting fees "depending on who or what it is for,'' as recommended by Mr.

Roberts, was being looked at, he said.

The cat problem was being addressed by trying to neuter cats. While Dr. Saul could accept the principle that if dogs were licensed, cats should be, he felt cat licences would not address the wild cat population.